Are you in the wrong job? The sectors set to boom this...

THE next year is set to be bumpy for the jobs market - but some professions will be harder hit than others. The emergence of AI is expected to delivery huge growth, while some sectors are already experiencing job cuts ahead of employer tax increases in April. Experts have also highlighted an increase in housebuilding and investment in renewable energy sources as factors that could create new job opportunities and drive up salaries.

Image Credit: The Sun [Illustration of six scenes depicting different jobs with associated salaries, categorized as "boom" or "doom" jobs.]

Obviously, some roles in the the sectors highlighted for growth will require qualifications that can take years to gain, but others offer opportunities to train quickly or learn on the job. And the good news is there are plenty of opportunities on offer and some of them come with hefty pay packets. There were 818,000 job vacancies in the UK between September and November 2024, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics.

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Between April and June 2024 the most commonly advertised jobs in the UK were for care workers. Also making the list were positions in sales or business development, as well as accountancy positions including book-keepers, payroll managers and wage clerks. It was demand for HGV drivers that saw the steepest increase, with the number of vacancies more than doubling during the year. Big increases were also seen in the number of advertised vacancies for early education and childcare practitioners (58%), cleaners (26%), chefs (18%) and kitchen and catering assistants (15%).

Image Credit: The Sun [Construction worker laying paving stones.]

When it comes to wage growth recruitment expert Indeed’s tracker found that security, retail and customer service roles had all seen growth of more than 8% in the last year. However Indeed UK's senior economist, Jack Kennedy, warned that wage growth in these sectors could be expected to plateau as employers look to reduce expenditure in light of the employer tax increases outlined in October's budget.

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But, other industries can expect to see wage increases as demand booms. So if you're considering a career change in 2025, here are the roles experts think are set for a great year and those you might want to avoid. Recruitment experts were in agreement that 2025 is set to be a huge year for AI. As a result, employers will be looking for talented individuals to join their teams and will offer big salaries to attract them.

Image Credit: The Sun [Teacher explaining math to students at a whiteboard.]

John McLaughlin, chief commercial officer for talent at professional services company Aon, said: “Demand for AI software engineers and data scientists is skyrocketing. "Job postings for software engineers with AI expertise quadrupled between 2023 and 2024. "This trend is likely to continue into 2025, and may potentially accelerate with the advent of DeepSeek – a new Chinese AI start-up that has shaken up the sector.".

Image Credit: The Sun [Savills for sale sign outside a house.]

McLaughlin said generous salary premiums were being offered to secure employees and added: "New hires in these roles can expect a 14 per cent premium, highlighting the competitive market.”. Arne Helgesen, IT leader, technology manager, and cybersecurity expert at Sharecat Data Services, added: “Companies don’t just need people who can build AI models — they need experts who can maintain them, check for biases, and ensure compliance with regulations.

Image Credit: The Sun [Two doctors prepare a patient for an MRI scan.]

"Getting into AI varies in difficulty. A software engineer with experience can switch in about six months with the right training, while someone with no background in tech might need two to four years of study and hands-on work.”. Analysis of vacancies posted in the last six months by ITJobsWatch found the median AI developer salary in the UK is £66,254, while career expert Glassdoor said recruits can anticipate salaries between £41,000 and £68,000.

Image Credit: The Sun [Wind turbines in a green field under a blue sky.]

However in the US salaries have reached $150,000 (£120,000), which suggests UK salaries could be set to grow further in the next 12 months. The government has said it plans to build 1.5million homes in the next five years, which is expected to drive up demand in the construction industry. Managing director of HR and payroll software company Employment Hero, Kevin Fitzgerald, said: “If the Labour government follows through on its promise to loosen planning regulations and fast-track infrastructure projects, it could provide a much-needed boost to the construction and housebuilding sectors.

Image Credit: The Sun [a man wearing a hard hat and safety vest is working on a robotic arm]

"With construction wages already up 2.8% month-on-month and 9.4% year-on-year according to data from 90,0000 employees who use Employment Hero, demand for skilled workers will only intensify, driving wages even higher.". The Construction Industry Training Board predicts that the sector will grow by an average of 2.4% a year between now and 2028. It has said that to meet the demand an extra 251,000 construction workers will be required over the next five years.