[caption id="attachment_157" align="alignnone" width="2048"] UK Visa. Photo: Collected[/caption] Nigeria and other nations with a sizable youthful population can profit from the current skills deficit in the United Kingdom (UK). Top employment and academic degrees that are well-positioned to fulfill market demands and address the shortage in the UK are listed in a new study by Erudera, a worldwide university and academic program search engine. “This is mainly based on factors like the skill requirements in the job (which are aligned with the degree) as well as the degrees typically held by professionals currently employed in the respective professions,” it said. One of the reasons the UK has been flexible with its immigration channels in an effort to expand and strengthen its economy is the UK's exit from the European Union (Brexit). There are many middle- and low-level employment openings nationwide as a result of the pullout. The Graduate Route, High Potential Individual Visa, Global Talent Visa, and Scale-up Visa are a few of the newly announced routes. According to official statistics, the number of Nigerians granted UK work visas increased from 1,993 in 2019 to 13,449 in 2022, a 574.8 percent increase.

Here are the top jobs with their salary wages per hour Health sector jobs (£16.94 per hour)

The UK has been a net importer of healthcare professionals as a result of the staff shortages in the industry being a top priority for its consecutive governments. The Conservative administration said in 2020 that it will raise the number of nurses by 50,000 over the following five years and provide an additional $5,000 in cost-of-living assistance. The nation also unveiled a Health and Care Visa policy that year, with the intention of making it less expensive, quicker, and simpler for medical professionals to immigrate to the UK. The largest economy in Africa, according to data from the British government, was among the top three nations with the second-highest growth in skilled work visas in the health and care sector. It increased from 5,009 in the year ending March 2022 to 17,596 in the year ending March 2023, a 251% increase. The National Careers Service predicts that by 2027, 4,300 new positions in this industry will be created, representing an expected 6.2 percent job increase. “With 48.5 percent of the workforce projected to retire during the same period, a total of 33,400 vacancies will be available,” Erudera said. It said people employed within this sector typically possess a bachelor’s degree with honors (BA/BSc), a degree apprenticeship, a graduate diploma, or a level six National Vocational Qualification qualification. “Healthcare degrees in the UK offer promising career prospects, particularly in nursing, general practice and healthcare assistance. The demand for professionals in these areas is consistently high within the country’s healthcare industry,” it added.

Biological Scientists and Biochemists (£12.55 per hour)

People who study and research the morphology, structure, chemistry, and physical features of living things, including their interactions, surroundings, and diseases, are known as biological scientists and biochemists. According to the authors of the Erudera research, the expanding number of job openings in this industry offers aspirant scientists in the UK an exciting opportunity to contribute to this subject. “There is a projected job growth of 4.2 percent in this particular sector by 2027, creating approximately 4,500 new employment opportunities.” The UK’s Careers Service, projects that within the same timeframe, it is expected that 39.6 percent of the existing workforce will retire,leading to a substantial total of 42,600 vacancies becoming available. Research shows that the field of science, particularly biological sciences, and biochemistry, has witnessed steady employment growth. According to Statista, around 95,800 individuals were employed in these roles in 2021, a notable increase from the 91,800 recorded in 2010.

Engineering (£13.54-£16.12 per hour)

In the UK, there is a demand for civil, mechanical, electrical, and electronics engineering professionals. According to a recent research by Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Learning, 89 percent of STEM enterprises have trouble hiring, and the current shortage of trained people in the UK costs the economy an estimated £1.5 billion annually. Around 18 percent of the working population in the UK is currently employed in engineering-related jobs, according to analysts at Erudera. “Furthermore, engineering jobs comprise at least 15 percent of the working population in every region across the country.” By 2027, the UK government projects 4.2 percent growth in the mechanical engineering sector, resulting in roughly 3,800 employment prospects. “During the same period, an estimated 39.6 percent) of the current workforce is expected to retire, leading to around 36,000 vacant positions being available,” it said.

IT Business analysts, architects and systems Designers (£15.43 per hour)

Computer science, information technology, business administration, or a similar discipline are often the studies required for the jobs. According to Erudera, the biggest employers in this industry in terms of employment opportunities are head offices, legal and accounting departments, and computer programming departments. “These sectors provide significant employment prospects for individuals with computer science degrees. And London stands out as the region offering the most opportunities for programmers and software developers in the UK. “The capital city provides a vibrant hub for those seeking careers in this field, with a wide array of exciting job prospects,” it added.

Architects (£13.50 per hour)

The areas of England with the biggest concentration of opportunities in the field of architecture are London and the South East. They also provide the best work opportunities for architects. By 2027, the sector should see a growth in job chances of 4.3%, creating about 2,900 new employment opportunities, predicts the UK government. “During the same period, it is estimated that 55.3 percent of the current workforce will retire, leading to a significant total of 37,700 vacancies opening up.” The country’s Architects Registration Board (ARD) said the distribution of architects across the UK is not balanced, with half of all architects being based in London and the South East, compared to 27 percent of the UK population “To register as an architect in the UK, individuals with qualifications from outside the European Union or non-recognised UK qualifications must successfully complete the ARB’s Examination for equivalence to prescribed qualifications”, Erudera said. The rest of the jobs are programmers and software development professionals (£13.95 per hour), web design and development professionals (£10.99 per hour), veterinarians (£13.83 per hour), cybersecurity specialists (£13.17 per hour) and laboratory technicians (£7.75 per hour).