According to the Department for Education, 2.5 million people, or 7.8% of the working-age population, are in high-demand job positions. Care workers and home carers make up a lot of this group, with 815,000 employed. 82.5% of these jobs don’t need qualifications beyond A-levels or equivalent.
There are also 12.6 million people working in what the DfE calls elevated-demand roles, which need higher qualifications. The composite index combines data from 7 factors, such as:
- Visa applications (showing how many foreign workers are needed for certain jobs)
- Online job adverts (indicating how often employers are looking to hire for these jobs)
- Wage growth (jobs with rising wages can indicate higher demand).
It uses these indicators to analyse around 400 jobs from the Office for National Statistics’ standard list of occupations. These are the categories:
Critical Demand
Jobs in this category are considered “outliers” because they score much higher than others across the 7 indicators.
This means these roles are facing an urgent or acute need for workers.
Elevated Demand
These jobs score above average across the 7 indicators.
They are in demand but not as urgently as those in the critical category.
Not in High Demand
Jobs in this category score below average.
These roles are not currently experiencing high levels of demand.
The index helps decision makers understand which roles are urgently needed, moderately needed, or less needed in the current job market.
What Are The 5 Most In Demand Jobs In The UK For 2025?
Some jobs are expected to be at the top of the list in 2025. According to Skillsoft and Indeed, these 5 roles are the ones to watch:
Nurse
Average salary: £37,422.
Cybersecurity Analyst
Average salary: £43,107
Financial Advisor
Average salary: £51,205
Electrician
Average salary: £38,361
UX Designer
Average salary: £46,268
How Is Tech Changing Jobs And Skills In The UK?
Technology has certainly changed the workplace. Automation and AI are making a big difference in how jobs are done. UKCES estimates that up to 40% of roles could be automated in the next 20 years, meaning workers will need new skills to manage and oversee these systems.
Manufacturing is also changing, with the rise of smart factories and 3D printing. These tools create new roles that use both practical skills and tech knowledge. Workers who can operate and fix advanced machinery will be in demand.
Remote work and online learning have also created a need for skills in digital collaboration and virtual teaching. These changes mean that workers must get comfortable with new tools and ways of working.
According to Skillsoft’s survey, only 1 in 4 employees had access to tools like generative AI in the past year. This lack of access has left many workers feeling unprepared to keep up with tech-driven changes.
What Will The Next 5 Years Show Us?
Workers are retiring later, with more people over 65 still employed. According to UKCES, multigenerational teams will become more common as people delay retirement.
Remote work and gig jobs are also becoming more popular, for those who need more flexible hours. But this means individuals will need to take charge of their own learning and development to stay competitive.
Traditional middle-skill roles, like admin jobs, are declining, while new positions tied to tech and specialist knowledge are growing. For instance, in manufacturing and education, automation is creating opportunities for workers who are tech-savvy.
Global changes, like changes in trade and financial centres, could also influence where jobs are based. Businesses and policymakers are already looking at how to prepare for these changes.
What Skills And Roles Will Stand Out By 2030?
Creativity, adaptability, and quick thinking will become even more important as machines take over repetitive tasks. Workers who can combine technical knowledge with innovation will stand out.
New roles will appear around monitoring and improving automated systems. Jobs that mix tech and creative skills are also likely to grow, particularly in health, manufacturing, and digital industries.
