Scotland top for new careers in 2020

If your New Year’s resolution is to find a new job, what are you waiting for? A report from a leading UK independent job board reveals that the number of jobs on offer in Scotland has increased by 26.8% in the last year.

The report from CV-Library analysed job market data throughout 2019 and compared it with statistics from 2018.

The findings show that key Scottish cities Glasgow and Edinburgh witnessed the biggest jump in job adverts last year out of all the major cities analysed, making them the best locations to look for a new role in 2020:

1. Glasgow – job adverts up by 25.7%

2. Edinburgh – 20.5%

3. Portsmouth – 11%

4. Bristol – 10%

5. Southampton – 8.3%

6. Cardiff – 8%

7. Brighton – 6.9%

8. Nottingham – 5%

9. London – 4.8%

10. Liverpool – 3.6%

Alongside this, job seekers in Edinburgh may be able to secure a pay rise if they move jobs right now, with the data showing that average salaries have increased by 8.1% over the past 12 months.

There are a number of reasons why pay has risen so substantially; one of them being the increased competition among local businesses.

The fight for the top talent is tougher than ever and companies are prepared to pull out all the stops to attract the best candidates to their roles.

Lee Biggins, CEO and founder of CVLibrary, said: “Despite severe political and economic uncertainty over the last year, it’s positive to see that the Scottish jobs market has continued to grow.

“We’ve noticed that this is an ongoing trend, which should instil confidence in professionals who may have put off searching for a new job in the run up to the election; especially as January is consistently one of the most popular times for companies to hire.”

The report also shows that job applications increased by 5.2% across Scotland in 2019.

In fact, competition will be tough for candidates in Perth, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, with applications growing by 29%, 12.9% and 8.5% respectively.

However, while there are more people applying for new jobs there’s no need to panic if you’re looking for a job in one of these cities.

In order to stand out from the crowd, make sure you research any prospective employers thoroughly and tailor your CV and cover letter accordingly.

This will help you get ahead of the other candidates out there; and secure your next role in no time.

Lee added: “There’s no doubt that now is the best time to look for a new job. Not only are there more roles available, but pay is also increasing, as businesses compete for the best candidates.

“Take advantage of this growth by updating your CV, uploading it to any relevant job boards and start looking for your next role.”

There’s no doubt that now is the best time to look for a new job.