I'm interested to know if there seems to be any sector that seems to be doing ok at the moment? And I don't mean that you're working for an individual company that is bucking the trend. I mean a sector of industry that is genuinely doing well?
I'm a graphic designer, and its not so much that the industry is dying on its arse, its more that the rotting corpse is now stinking up the place something rotten. Its grim. And there's no improvement in sight any time soon.
So.... are there any?
on the up in the games industry just have my first vacancy email in 18 months. It had one position in it.
I am just moving into engines. Constantly changing emissions regulations are keeping the industry busy.
Tax/incentives/worn out vehicles keeps them going out the door.
There's even bookies going out of business at the moment but the business of supplying them with software solutions for various types of numbers betting is doing well as they try and chase the punters for cash
Public sector. Dead! I'm getting out. I don't think people around me can see the writing on the wall. Must be because their heads are burried too deep in the sand.
I'm moving into electrical distribution networks. We're always going to need electricity right?
Cancer. Unfortunately always a client base 🙁
Mrs Higgo is in 'nuclear environmental'.
Sadly she'll be in a job for the next 10,000 years or so.
I'm out of a job as soon as we find a cure for heart disease and cancer.
As ****ed-up as the print and graphics industry is at the minute I do think a lot of companies only have themselves to blame - there's massive overcapacity and work is being done at silly rates just to fill presses, often with artwork chucked in free. IMO we need a good clear-out!
Offshore construction- As we mostly work for Oil & gas, keep on driving those audis to keep me in a job 🙂
Industrial digital inkjet seems to be doing OK.
Company I work for is pretty busy & the company I used to work for can't build printheads fast enough.....
Utilities = captive customer base pretty much.
Banking - going back to slide rule and abacus. That isnt such a bad thing, we've had 20yrs of too many bright kids slogging it out in the City moving money from one place to the next. Next generation is going to have to stay in the real economy, maybe even help make stuff, thats going to be good for everybody.
[simpsons]This is a Golden Age for repo men. One that shall never end.[/simpsons]
Most of my work is related to offshore power: oil/gas/renewables.
There's LOADS of work 🙂
Anyone want a job? We need people...
Stumpy, Industrial Inkjet? I presume you're Cambridgeshire then? I used to be at VideoJet/Marconi Data many years ago...
Teaching is ****ed. There are now far too many teachers, and schools have restricted budgets so many new entrants are not getting proper contracts. Also, supply teaching virtually no longer exists, since most supply is now tackled by in house cover supervisors (usually non-degreed) or even supply cover supervisors (i.e. a person off the street with a clear eCRB who registers with an agency). DT is being cut, art depart,ments are being cut.. anything that uses resources is being cut...
So thanks Goldman Sachs et al. Thanks a lot for your high speed trading gambling con and other associated trickery.
Tanning salons seem to be doing ok at the mo.
Unemployment - it's booming. 🙁
In the world of commercial finance things are very difficult. Massive amounts of work being undertaken by small understaffed teams, no one is making money so no change in sight. It will take years to sort out the mess.
Steel - might not be doing to well in a lot of the western countries, here in India there's massive growth - will certainly keep us busy for a while!
Cheers, Rich
Recruitment - surprisingly OK at the moment, certainly better than the last two years.
Games industry - generally a bit volatile anywhere, but it's been particularly battered in the UK. A lot of people are, quite literally, blaming Canada. The Canadian government gives Vancouver (and to a lesser extent Montreal) studios a massive tax breaks, which means that they can offer more to publishers for less. A lot of the publishers have moved their headquarters there, and even closed a few of their US studios and reopened them in Vancouver.
There's also the issue of big US publishers buying up UK studios, then shutting them down a couple of years later, even if they've produced successful games. Yes Activision and Disney, I'm looking at you.
Defence R&D, very busy and have been for ages.
Architecture seems to be picking up (in London at least) much more staff movement at the moment which is normally a good sign.
Defence R&D, very busy and have been for ages.
That's because one of the main exports of the UK and its child, the US, is war.
Most of my work is related to offshore power: oil/gas/renewables.
There's LOADS of workAnyone want a job? We need people...
What sort of qualifications are people after in your area? Tehcnical or more project managment based? I was thinking about a sector change, have been working as a project/ program manager with a large engineering firm for around 6 years now.
Utilities here too. What are people going to do, stop going for a poo?
MWAAAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!
I work with the unemployed, do I need to say more ?
I'm a psychiatric nurse, and sadly, am seeing increasing pressure on beds, the community mental health teams and more and more referrals day in day out. Oddly enough, I got a text message last night from the dealers that I bought my Harley from, saying the Doncaster, Leeds and Manchester branches are all in recievership and closing down. Arse!
Space system software. Cutbacks in spending and more companies on the continent getting geared up with national support is eroding our business. We're fighting.
I'm very interested in the energy sector actually.
NDT's [i]sort of[/i] on the up. We've (and the rival company) got so much work in lately that you have to climb over it to get out of the door, but film costs are up 30% or so (the boss repeatedly tells anyone who'll listen), pretty much destroying the profits.
Our work-load's being increased to try and counter it, the knackered old machinery's repeatedly cobbled together because New costs too much, and safe working practise is largely ignored to save money/time. It's a house of cards I tells ye.
The directors have all got big new cars lately though, so it's probably not all bad.
Lots of people in my business say "the job is ****ed"
I've no doubt people 30 years ago were saying it and 30 years in the future people will still be saying it
Print industry is on its arse and I can only see it getting worse as margins get tighter and capacity outstrips an already reducing demand.
Thankfully just got out.
Rail Industry - FUBAR'ed, I feel like I'm re-arrangging deckchairs on the Titanic but will shortly be displaced from this job to reapply for the same but slightly different position even though we steam closer to the ice!
Moral in our bit is so bad if it was an airliner it would have a four engine shutdown and have just popped out of the clouds to find its in the middle of a mountain range!
bikes.things are pretty tough and have been for over a year...crc and theyre pals dont help,cyclescheme eats 17% of your margin,theyres complete oversupply of brands each wanting a slice of a diminishing market...i cant see where the growth is coming from.in 8 years of having a shop this has been our worst for mtb sales...
maybe working for someone would be less stressful!
MOD 'nuff said 😀
I worked in the steel industry, now closed down and they sold the entire plant to china and rebuilt there.
Worked on a market, and soon to move and be seriously downsized.
Worked in a large psychie hospital, they let all the patients out, to roam the streets, with part time care, and loads of drugs to keep them calm.
Now in my current job, nobody seems to have any money to employ my services, and more job loses amongst my customers every day.
Pharmaceuticals.
Increased unemployment/stress/social deprivatiopn = increased custom. 🙂
Lots of people in my business say "the job is ****ed"I've no doubt people 30 years ago were saying it and 30 years in the future people will still be saying it
How naive!
Drunks will always need a taxi so I should be fine.
Hi-fi industry as a whole has been a tough place for the last few years. Plenty of companies have shrunk or been treading water. Our company has made some great decisions (and therefore products) though and we've been expanding pretty rapidly through those years 🙂 We've just done a new deal which should see that growth continue so I'm pretty happy.
Town planning. In the two years I have been back in the NW there HASN'T BEEN ONE SINGLE JOB TO APPLY FOR!!!!!!!! (Liverpool, Manchester, Chester etc)
To make matters worse, I decided to apply for a job in Kingston which I was just offered but cannot take as the family don't want to be moved again.
Note to all prospective planners, don't ****ing bother, find something, anything, else to do.
How naive!
explain
Oil sands remediation - yes, I think my job is somewhat ironic..
The one part of Environment Canada that Harper (who is like GW Bush's shadow) hasn't lain the axe to in an effort to get the Keystone XL pipeline built. Infact if it isn't oil sands related, you have to fight *very* hard to get the research cash to do anything but, very different to even 12 months ago.
On the other side of things, my friend who owns a used bicycle business in Hamilton, ON - they only do repairs and sell refurbished secondhand bikes that are *given* to them is absolutely booming, to the point he bought a new premises with cash and is to rent out the top two floors as loft apartments 😀
As for the rest of Canada...things aren't nearly as rosy as the UK broadsheets make out, people have jobs yes, but my god is it all a house of cards waiting to tumble down, [i]everything[/i] is built on credit. It's like the UK in 2004.
Contaminated land in the UK is basically dead. I'm working in a bike shop now!
Oil & gas here. Whole sector seems to be booming, e.g. Aker are recruiting 100's in Aberdeen and opening a new design office in London. We are currently recruiting to increase staff numbers by 25%. We can't make stuff quick enough.