ClickAJob News

Job seekers looking for a career change may want to consider plumbing after new research has revealed it is the UK's most recession-proof job.

Training provider Train 4 Trade Skills says that even though many companies have to make employee cutbacks because of the credit crunch, there are more than 30,000 vacant plumbing jobs across the country, the Recruiter reported.

However, it says that many people who want to retrain for a new career cannot afford to return to college or do an apprenticeship, even though the average plumber earns between £30,000 and £35,000 a year when qualified.

Mike Head, marketing manager for Train 4 Trade Skills, said: "With a conservative estimate of half a million jobs becoming redundant over the coming year, more and more workers are looking for career switches."

He added that plumbing was "well paid" and "flexible".

According to ClickAJob Marketing Manager Anders Jensen, the trick is for job-seekers to demonstrate that transferable skills make them immediately employable.

"Most people have universally useful skills they’ve picked up on the job," he says.

"Capabilities with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access tend to get glossed over in a CV, with no indication of competence level –even more intricate skills get just glancing references."

He continues, "In fact though everybody wants it, REAL computer dexterity is hard to come by, which is why our ClickATest online competency assessments are becoming so popular."

"If you can prove what you CAN DO NOW instead of what you DID BEFORE your chances of getting hired are that much better," he asserts.

Earlier this month Personnel Today reported on information from KnowledgePool which gave employers advice on how to cut the costs of giving workers extra training.