Who’s winning the jobs war?

By at home

In the first three months of this year the number of people out of work rose to 2.22 million. And many experts believe the unemployment rate is certain to get worse.

But as BT reported an annual loss of £134 million and announced a further 15,000 job cuts, supermarket giant Sainsbury’s posted an 11.3% hike in profits to £543 million. Its 120,000 staff will share a bonus pot of £60 million.

Middle class recession
What’s different about this recession is that joblessness is rising more quickly among white-collar workers.
Among the hardest hit are architects – the number claiming jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) has risen by 760%. Given the downturn in the building industry it’s not surprising that allied professions, such as quantity surveyors and construction managers all claiming the dole in record numbers, too.
But what of the bankers, city traders and hedge fund managers who tipped us into this crisis? According to some labour market experts they’re not likely to crop up in these stats, because JSA isn’t worth claiming.

On the up side
But within some professions there is good news to be found. In the last year, the number of medical professionals claiming the dole has fallen by 6%, and the number of dentists and pharmacists claiming JSA has remained the same.
Likewise, the number of public sector claimants has dropped – with record numbers of people signing on, you need more people to issue claims; with more people having to take early retirement, you need more pension administrators and so on.

Who’s claiming the dole
We spotlight the numbers claiming benefits and the percentage change since February 2008

Losing jobs
Architects
2008: 150 on the dole
2009: 1,290 on the dole
Also hitting the dole queue in greater numbers are architectural technologists and town planning technicians (up 648%) quantity surveyors (up 559%), and chartered surveyors (up 416%).

Taxation experts
2008: 30 on the dole
2009: 140 on the dole
One of the hallmarks of this recession is seeing high-income earners’ livings plummeting.

Vets
2008: 10 on the dole
2009: 45 on the dole
Expensive fees are putting people off having their pets and animals treated, so vets are less in demand.

Solicitors, lawyers, judges & coronors
2008: 350 on the dole
2009: 1,570 on the dole
The Law Society is encouraging out-of-work solicitors to maintain their skills by doing pro-bono work for charities.

Aircraft pilots
2008: 110 on the dole
2009: 320 on the dole
As bookings for business flights and holidays abroad drop so does the demand for pilots.

Advertising and public relations managers

2008: 510 on the dole
2009: 1,340 on the dole
Hit by the meltdown, advertising revenues are down, which caused a 163% rise in job losses.

Finance and investment analysts/advisers

2008: 1,100 on the dole
2009: 2,820 on the dole
One of the first job fields to take a punch from the global economic slowdown.

Insurance underwriters
2008: 170 on the dole
2009: 420 on the dole
Institutions are pulling the plug on calling in the loans because of their own financial troubles.

Software professionals
2008: 2,770 on the dole
2009: 4,880 on the dole
With companies taking decisions to downsize, IT departments are starting to feel the effects of the global recession.

Secondary education teaching professionals

2008: 1,085 on the dole
2009: 1,410 on the dole
Secondary school teachers have not been hit as hard as other professions, with 28% more on the dole.

Musicians
2008: 1,085 on the dole
2009: 1,225 on the dole
The entertainment industry is just about weathering the storm – music to their ears.

Jobs Aplenty

Medical practitioners
2008: 170 on the dole
2009: 160 on the dole
Medics are thriving at a time when more and more people are getting sick through stress.

Senior officials in government
2008: 1,670 on the dole
2009: 1,505 on the dole
Like medics, this group is also bucking the trend.

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