What is the average salary in the UK?

Feeling overwhelmed by inflation? You’re not the only one! During these times of inflation, many people are questioning their salary and seeking jobs with good progression. Lots of factors can affect your salary, from location to experience to job type to industry. So, in today’s blog, we’ll be attacking salaries from all angles to help you understand where you fit in, and how you can start earning more.

The median annual salary in the UK for full-time employees was £31,285 in 2020-2021, according to the latest data from the ONS. This figure is down by 0.6% from the previous year, meaning full-time salaries have taken a hit. This is most likely as a result of the pandemic, with many of the UK’s full-time workforce being on furlough and companies recovering from any losses experienced during the height of the pandemic. 

Industries with the highest growth in gross weekly full-time earnings

Here are the top 5 industries that have experienced the highest growth in gross weekly full-time earnings in 2020-2021, compared to 2019-2020.

  1. Construction – 16.8% increase
  2. Manufacturing – 8.3% increase
  3. Wholesale and retail trade – 7.6% increase
  4. Transportation and storage – 5.7% increase
  5. Electricity gas steam and air conditioning supply – 5.5% increase

Industries with the smallest growth in gross weekly full-time earnings

These are the 5 industries that experienced the least amount of growth in weekly full-time earnings, if any at all!

  1. Public administration and defence; compulsory social security – -2.5% decrease
  2. Mining and quarrying – -1.3% decrease
  3. Information and communication – 0.2% increase
  4. Arts and entertainment – 0.9% increase
  5. Human health and social work activities – 1.7% increase

Growth in gross weekly full-time earnings by location

Location can affect your salary growth. Take a look at the earnings growth across the UK in 2020-2021 compared to 2019-2020:

  1. Northern Ireland – 8.8% increase
  2. West Midlands – 5.6% increase
  3. Scotland – 5.1% increase
  4. South East – 5%
  5. Yorkshire and the Humber – 4.9%
  6. East – 4.7%
  7. Wales – 3.9%
  8. South West – 3.8%
  9. North West – 3.2%
  10. North East – 2.7%
  11. East Midlands – 1.4%
  12. London – 1.1%

Highest paying occupations

  • Chief Executives and senior officials – £90,00 average annual gross pay
  • Legal professionals – £76,522 average annual gross pay
  • Marketing and sales directors – £75,631 average annual gross pay
  • Brokers – £66,813 average annual gross pay
  • Advertising and PR directors – £64,641 average annual gross pay
  • Medical practitioners – £64,504 average annual gross pay

Lowest paying occupations

  • Playworkers – £14,345 average annual gross pay
  • Beauticians and related – £15,210 average annual gross pay
  • Hairdressers and barbers – £15,405 average annual gross pay
  • Bar staff – £15,896 average annual gross pay
  • Waiters and waitresses – £16,146 average annual gross pay
  • Leisure and theme park attendants – £16,194 average annual gross pay

Ready to increase your earnings?

Are you feeling underpaid? Ready to increase your earnings in 2022? Well the good news is you have the power to start earning more money. Either you start applying for new jobs, or you negotiate a higher salary with your current employer.

SonicJobs can help you with your job search. With over half a million live vacancies on our app, you’ll be sure to find a well-paid job near you.

How do you find a job in hospitality?

Working in hospitality is fast-paced and varied. It’s all about people and creating unforgettable experiences. Each day is different, and you can expect to gain a wide variety of CV skills that can lead to a number of management positions across hotels, restaurants and venues.

Let’s take a look at what the hospitality industry has to offer, and how you can find your first hospitality job.

What different hospitality jobs are there?

  • Waiter/waitress
  • Barista
  • Bartender
  • Concierge
  • Chef
  • Hotel porter

Waiter/waitress – £21,000 average salary

Taking orders in restaurants and cafes to deliver outstanding customer service

Barista – £20,536 average salary

This is less of a people-facing role, and more centred around making non-alcoholic drinks in a restaurant or cafe

Bartender – £21,000 average salary

A wildly social and vibrant job role that will keep you busy, as you create alcoholic drinks all through the night.

Concierge – £23,000 average salary

This role is all about making people’s trips unforgettable. You’ll use your knowledge of the local area to suggest events, tours and site-seeing activities.

Chef – £27,000 average salary

What would a restaurant be without a talented chef? You’ll need to undergo various levels of training but becoming a chef can be a creative and fulfilling career.

Hotel porter – £18,579 average salary

As the face of a hotel, you’re in charge of welcoming guests, taking reservations and answering any queries from visitors.

How to find a job in hospitality

Find a hospitality recruitment agency

There are many recruitment agencies that specialise in hospitality jobs. Run a simple google search to find hospitality recruitment agencies local to you. Working for an agency is a great way to gain hands-on industry experience when you’re first starting out, especially if you want to get started ASAP.

Check for qualifications

You don’t always need a qualification to get started in hospitality – but it can be an advantage depending on the type of position you’ve got your eyes on. For example, if you want to become a chef, gaining a chefing qualification will give you an edge. Qualifications in business and hospitality are also a great advantage. 

Update your CV

When applying for jobs in hospitality, you need to update your CV with all the most relevant hospitality skills. Skills like customer service, communication and initiative will help your CV stand out.

Drop your CV off in person

One of the best ways to make a great impression is to drop your CV off in person. This gives the hiring manager a chance to see you face-to-face. If you come across as confident and friendly, there’s a strong chance they’ll fast-track you into an interview!

Use the SonicJobs app

We know how much of a pain job searching can be. That’s why we created our app. The SonicJobs app has thousands of hospitality roles across the UK. With our app, you can:

  • Apply for hospitality jobs from your phone
  • Build a CV
  • Upload your own CV
  • Automatically apply for jobs that match your requirements using our SmartApply feature

A world of opportunity

The great thing about hospitality is that you gain so many transferable skills. Everyday is different, so if you’re keen to learn and progress, you’ll enjoy everything hospitality has to offer. 

We add new vacancies to the SonicJobs app daily – so be sure to hop on our app every morning to check for new hospitality jobs near you!

Is being a lorry driver long hours?

Are you considering starting a career as a lorry driver but wondering if the hours are long? Lorry driver jobs are on the rise as the UK is currently dealing with a shortage, so there’s no doubt you’ll get snapped up fast. In fact, many companies are offering signup bonuses and juicy salary increases to incentivise people to join the industry. 

There’s never been a better time to step into the lorry driving game, so let’s take a look at life as a lorry driver so you can decide if it’s the right career for you.

  • What’s the job description?
  • Do lorry drivers work long hours?
  • How much do they earn?
  • Pros and cons of being a HGV driver

What’s the job description?

In most lorry driver job descriptions, you’ll have responsibilities to load and unload trucks safely, complete paperwork, transport goods long distances (sometimes internationally), and deliver excellent customer service as you represent the face of the business on your dropoffs. You need to be reliable, hard-working and have good administration skills.

Do lorry drivers work long hours?

Lorry drivers do tend to work slightly longer hours than average jobs. In the UK, the average employee works 35.8 hours per week. However, lorry drivers can work up to 9 hours daily, and this can be increased to 10 hours twice a week. They have a limit of 90 hours driving fortnightly, and must take a 45 minute break after 4.5 hours of driving.

How much do they earn?

On average, HGV drivers in the UK earn £32,500. However, this is likely to be higher since, in recent times, lorry driver salaries have increased and they’re being offered new bonuses.

Pros of being a HGV driver

Competitive salary

Due to the shortage of HGV drivers in the UK, companies are offering inflated salaries to attract workers. In 2021, research showed that lorry driver wages surged seven times quicker than the average wage growth for all other UK jobs.

Job stability

With many jobs being put on the line and businesses closing due to covid restrictions, lorry driving was one industry that continued to plough through the chaos of 2020. Since they’re classed as key workers, there’s very little risk of lorry drivers being put on furlough or being made redundant. 

Signup bonus

With many companies struggling to meet their quota for drivers, they’re offering one-off signup bonuses to new drivers. It’s not uncommon for some new hires to receive a £2000 signup bonus, and some companies, like Gist, have even offered as much as £5000! How about that for a welcome gift?!

Flexible hours

One of the great things about becoming a lorry driver is that you can often change your schedule to suit your needs. If you need to be home on certain days of the week, your shift manager should be able to adjust your rota.

Cons of being a HGV driver

Unsociable hours

Working as a HGV driver definitely means you’ll need to work some unsociable hours, often driving through the night to reach your customers on time. Adjusting to night shifts can be tough and it’s not for everyone.

Long hours

Being a lorry driver means travelling long distances which means committing to long shifts. You could be expected to work up to 10 hours per shift.

Time away from home

Since most lorry driver roles require you to travel long distances, and sometimes internationally, you’ll need to spend some nights away from home. It’s not the right job for you if you need to be home with your family every evening.

You need a special licence

You won’t be able to become a lorry driver without a specific licence. To become a HGV driver, you’ll need to obtain either a Class 1 or Class 2 licence. Typically, the Class 1 drivers do the long-haul journeys and are paid more than Class 2, who travel more locally. You may be able to get a government grant to obtain your licence or you might get lucky and find an employer who’ll fund it for you.

Launch your new career

Hopefully this blog has helped you decide if a career as a HGV driver is right for you. Yes, you need a special licence to get started, but once you’re on the open road you’ve got a fantastic career ahead of you.

SonicJobs is home to hundreds of lorry driver jobs across the UK. Take a look inside our app to explore the latest jobs near you.

Do you need training to be a bartender?

Bartender jobs are fun and vibrant, but are by no means easy. Being behind the bar is a totally different experience to being the customer in front of the bar. Serving up complicated cocktails on a Friday night with a bar full of queues is high pressure, and you need to be quick on your feet to get the job done – not to mention adjusting to night shifts!

So let’s take a look at what it takes to become a successful bartender.

  • Do you need training to be a bartender?
  • How much does a bartender earn?
  • Tips for becoming a bartender
  • Top bartending CV skills

Do you need training to be a bartender?

No, bartending in the UK is a job that doesn’t require any formal qualifications or training – although it can’t hurt to have it! Many bars hire inexperienced trainees and provide training once you’ve been hired to make sure you can confidently serve up the bar’s hottest recipes and uphold their reputation.

How much does a bartender earn?

The average salary for bartender jobs in London is £22,492. But don’t forget, you also have the opportunity to earn tips as a bartender, particularly if you work in a high-end bar where a lot of wealthy professionals like to go.

Tips for becoming a bartender

Start as a barback

Barbacks don’t make up the drinks, but they play a key role in making sure the bar runs smoothly throughout the night. It’s a great way to familiarise yourself with bartending without chucking yourself in at the deep end. As a barback, you’ll be responsible for keeping the back of the bar tidy and stocked, as well as collecting any glasses and loading the dishwasher.

Know your cocktails

Most bars will have their own spin on certain cocktails that you’ll get to know on the job, but learning the key ingredients of the most common cocktails will help you in the interview process. Cocktails like margaritas, long island ice teas, and cosmopolitans are very popular – so knowing the ingredients to these will give you a headstart.

Learn the basics of wines

Do you know your dry wines from your sweet wines? How about the difference between a chardonnay and a sauvignon blanc? When you’re working behind a bar, you’ll often have customers ask for drinks like a ‘dry white’, so knowing the difference between the wines will definitely be a huge advantage.

Get to grips with the lingo

The world of bartending has a language of its own. Expect to hear terms like ‘neat’, ‘on the rocks’ and ‘virgin’. Just brushing up on this lingo before you step foot into your first shift will make your life a lot easier.

Top bartending CV skills

Sociable

Bartenders need to be sociable since bars are a place where people go to socialise. So to really enjoy your job and do it well, bartenders need to be warm, friendly and chatty.

Flexible

A little bit of flexibility goes a long way in the world of bartending. With shift patterns changing and different problems arising throughout the night, you need to have a flexible approach to chop and change, and muck in wherever you’re needed.

Hard working

Again, bartending isn’t a relaxing or easygoing job. It’s 8 hours of non-stop being on your feet in a quick-paced environment. You’ll need to show employers you can keep up and won’t be put off by the intensity of the work.

Multi-tasking

Bartenders often have several things popping up at one time. You need to be able to handle several orders in one go, all while taking payments, keeping the bar area as clear as possible and interacting with your customers at the bar.

Ready to jump in?

Working in a bar is hard work – but it’s great for sociable people and, because of the quick-paced nature of the role, the shifts tend to fly by in no time at all. Just be prepared to have achy feet at the end of the night, and undergo a steep learning curve to get to grips with the world of beverages!

SonicJobs has hundreds of bartender jobs in London and across the UK. Browse our app to find a job near you.

What is working in a factory like?

Considering working in a factory but not sure what to expect? Let’s be honest – on the surface, factory work doesn’t exactly sound like the best job in the world, and it’s not likely to be the highest paying career either. But don’t be so quick to write it off. The reality of working in a factory can actually be very rewarding if you enter into it with an attitude of wanting to learn and gain new skills for your CV.

Every situation in life presents an opportunity. The question is whether or not you’re willing to seize it…

6 things to expect from working in a factory

1. Routine is king

Factory work is all about methods and processes. The best factories are able to produce mass loads of goods because of their strict adherence to workflows. It’s not the type of job where you don’t know what’s happening from one day to the next. In a factory, you can expect a steady routine on a daily basis.

2. Overtime

Factories are crying out for more workers and, as a result, they often offer overtime. In fact, in 2021 the number of factory workers rose at its fastest rate in almost 50 years. So if your focus is centred around stacking cash, factory work gives you the opportunity to do just that. Just beware of burning the candle at both ends – you don’t want to run yourself into the ground by taking on too much overtime!

3. Temporary contracts

The vast majority of factory workers start out on temporary contracts. That’s not to say you won’t be able to switch to a permanent position after a while but chances are you’ll start out working on a temporary contract. 

4. Physically challenging

For the most part, factory work is physically demanding as you won’t be sitting behind a computer all day. Instead, you’ll be on your feet on hard concrete floors most of the day and may need to do a little lifting or manoeuvring of heavy goods. The good news is that this can be great for keeping fit instead of being sat idly at a desk all day. Just be sure to take regular breaks and stretch your body out to avoid aches and pains.

5. Mental space

Since factory work is repetitive and doesn’t require much thinking, you free up mental space in your mind. Factory jobs don’t tend to weigh much on your mind, so you don’t have to worry about your stress levels going through the roof. At the end of your shift, you’ll be able to switch off from your work without taking any mental baggage home with you.

6. Team work

When working in a factory, you’re very rarely working alone. You’re usually put into small teams or groups who are working together to achieve the task. So if you’re someone who enjoys working with others, you’ll like the collaboration that comes with factory work.

How to apply for a factory job

  • Update your CV – your CV should contain all the key skills for factory work. Skills like organisation, strong work ethic and reliability are exactly what factories are looking for.
  • Use the SonicJobs app – the SonicJobs app contains thousands of factory jobs across the UK, including Amazon factory jobs
  • Turn on the SmartApply feature – our SmartApply feature automatically applies for jobs that match your search so you don’t have to be glued to your phone 24/7
  • Refine your approach – don’t just apply for one job and hope for the best. Use our tips for finding a job quickly to elevate your search

Factory ready?

Working in a factory can be an opportunity to better yourself… if you’re willing to make it so. It all comes down to mindset. If you want to make it a useful experience, you will. 

To get applying, browse our app to access thousands of factory jobs and find a job near you!

What age should you get a job?

It can be tricky deciding when to step into the working world. In the UK, you’re legally allowed to start earning a full-time living from age 16. But did you know you’re also allowed to work a part-time job from the age of 13?

There are a great deal of benefits to finding a part-time job during your teens – you just need to make sure it doesn’t interfere with your studies!

Benefits of getting a job young

Build CV experience

When you start working from a young age, you get a head start as you start gaining skills to add to your CV for when you leave education. Where most students won’t have any work experience behind them, you’ll already have plenty of skills to talk about which will help you find a better job quicker.

Develop work ethic

Entering the working world can often be a shock to the system for many people, particularly students who have no previous experience. If people haven’t developed a solid work ethic, they could have issues settling into a new job, like time-keeping or professionalism. But if you ease your way in with a part-time job, this will be a huge benefit when you attend interviews in future as employers will already know you’re a determined and hard-working person since you started working young.

Earn money

Whether you spend your cash the moment you get it or you pop it into a savings account, there’s no doubt that earning your own money is a huge benefit of working young. You no longer have to be dependent on your granny slipping you a cheeky £10 note to go to the cinema. Any money you earn can be spent on your hobbies, socialising, or can be put away in a savings account to pay for your first car. 

Develop communication skills

One of the biggest advantages of working young is that you get to develop your communication skills. In the workplace, you’re constantly interacting with colleagues, managers and the public, so you’re learning how to work and speak with different people. Not only will this be of a huge benefit when it comes to applying for future jobs, but these new communication skills will come in handy in every aspect of your life.

Best part-time jobs for teens

  • Retail assistant – have an eye for shopping? Retail will help you develop your customer service skills
  • Kitchen porter – become a team player and show you’re not afraid of getting your hands dirty as you join the chef’s team
  • Cashier – deal with cash payments and interact with the public to provide excellent service as a cashier
  • Dog walker – dog walking requires you to be super active and reliable
  • Waiter/waitress – if you enjoy being around people, you’ll love being a waiter/waitress and giving customers an unforgettable experience
  • Newspaper distributor – enjoy the outdoors? This is a great part-time job that will keep you active
  • Tutor – work one on one to help younger students with their studies
  • Library assistant – do you love to read? Working in a library gives you excellent organisation skills

Ready to earn?

If you’re young and itching to get into the working world, why not go for it? There are plenty of part-time and weekend jobs for teens available – even if you have no experience.

With the SonicJobs app, we’ll create a CV for you so you can apply for jobs near you from your smartphone! Browse our app today to get started.

How to survive working a night shift

Night work is a great option for some people – and it tends to pay better. But whether you’re in healthcare, warehousing or frontline work, working a night shift can certainly be a challenge. It’s not natural for your body to be active during sleeping hours, so you’ll need to put in place a few safety nets to help yourself adjust. The beginning can be tough – but once you establish a routine you’ll find your night shift gets easier and you’ll find more ways to enjoy your job.

Here are our top tips for working nights:

  • Regulate your sleep cycle
  • Drink water
  • Eat at small intervals
  • Eat nourishing food
  • Talk with your colleagues
  • Establish a healthy relationship with caffeine
  • Focus on keeping busy

7 ways to deal with night shift jobs

1. Focus on keeping busy

The busier you can keep yourself on a night shift, the better! Being idle only leads to boredom which leads to sleepiness. Make sure you’ve got a full list of tasks to complete during your shift. If your workload is looking a little light, ask your manager to give you more work. Not only will this help you stay awake, but your manager will be impressed by your work ethic and this could help build a case for a payrise.

2. Regulate your sleep cycle

One of the most important steps in adjusting to night shifts is regulating your sleep cycle. It’s no use trying to live a normal life during the day – you’ll end up burning the candle at both ends. Make sure you’re getting 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep during the day to give your body enough rest before the graveyard shift.

3. Drink water

Staying hydrated is key in keeping your energy levels high. The more hydrated you are, the more awake you’ll feel. Let’s not forget that 60% of the human body is made up of water. Your body needs regular intakes of water to perform optimally. It’s simple, but effective!

4. Eat at small intervals

Your body’s digestive system may not take well to eating a heavy meal during a night shift. Instead, try eating small amounts at regular intervals to avoid upsetting your digestive system and ward off any feelings of sluggishness. 

5. Eat nourishing food

It’s not just important to make sure you’re eating at regular intervals, but it’s equally as important to ensure that what you’re putting into your body is going to nourish it. After all, you are what you eat, right? Junk food and sugar will only deplete your energy levels and may even cause you to crash and burn. Try eating more raw foods, healthy juices, nuts and pulses to get your energy levels up. It’s best if you can create a meal plan for yourself so you don’t end up at a loose end reaching for a bag of crisps.

6. Talk with your colleagues

Try to interact with your colleagues as much as possible to help you stay alert and pass the time. If you’re sitting at a desk on your night shift, you run the risk of falling asleep at the keyboard. So be sure to keep the conversation flowing as much as possible.

7. Establish a healthy relationship with caffeine

Caffeine can be a handy assistant for your night shift, but only when used correctly. You don’t want to be drinking caffeine throughout your entire shift – this will only disrupt your sleep pattern and cause major crashes. A small amount of caffeine early on in your shift won’t do you any harm – but just avoid strongly caffeinated drinks because what goes up, must come down…

No more snoozing

Night jobs can be difficult to handle, particularly in the beginning. But stay strict with your regime, follow these steps, and you’ll be able to adjust much quicker. 

Looking for night work? SonicJobs has thousands of night shift jobs in London and across the UK on our app.

What jobs don’t need experience?

One of the most frustrating parts about job hunting is getting rejected because you’re lacking experience, right? You know you’re capable of doing the job and just want someone to see you’ve got all the qualities to learn and succeed in the role. 

But what if we were to tell you that you don’t always need experience to find a new job?

There are plenty of career opportunities that hire people based on potential rather than experience. If you create an outstanding CV, you could get hired in any of these professions:

  • Sales
  • Admin
  • Warehousing
  • Care
  • Delivery driving
  • Flight attendant
  • Construction 
  • Estate agent

Top 8 jobs where no experience is needed

1. Sales

If you’re an outgoing person who is highly motivated and enjoys crushing targets, you could be a perfect fit for sales. Sure, companies will never turn away experienced salespeople who have a proven track record, but most companies like to keep an open mind when it comes to hiring salespeople. 

There are plenty of inexperienced people who are naturally charismatic and influential, and that’s the most important thing hiring managers look for. They know that if they only hire experienced people, they’re missing out!

2. Admin

There’s a ton of trainee admin career opportunities available to people who have excellent attention to detail. In general, admin roles are straightforward to train, so employers are open to hiring people who display the right qualities since it won’t be difficult to train them up. 

To get hired in admin, you’ll need to be detail-oriented, computer literate, and have a high level of English.

3. Warehousing

Warehousing is a sure way to get hired fast. Generally speaking, warehousing roles are low skill, and so it’s just a matter of learning how the warehouse operates and working hard. If you succeed, you could be doing a wide range of tasks from packing orders, loading trucks, accepting deliveries to stacking shelves.

To land a job in warehousing, you’ll need to enjoy being active and show employers you’re a reliable employee who can be counted on.

4. Care

Care companies are always hiring inexperienced people. Since this industry is heavily understaffed, care companies can’t afford to only hire experienced employees. They provide training on the job and look to hire people based on their personality.

When applying for a role as a carer, the most important thing to display is that you’re a compassionate and dependable person.

5. Delivery driving

Becoming a delivery driver doesn’t require any experience. Depending on the vehicle, you may need a special licence if the van weighs over 3.5tonnes. But once you’re in the driver’s seat, you get to enjoy a life on the road, whether that be locally or further afield.

If you’re interested in becoming a delivery driver, it will be useful to show employers you’ve got good geographical knowledge, and that you’re highly dependable.

6. Flight attendant

Fancy a job that allows you to travel? Becoming a flight attendant means you get to see the world whilst you earn money. Your role may involve long shifts, jet lag and sleepless nights, but is that such a big price to pay?

To bag an interview, be sure to talk about your excellent customer service skills and your enjoyment of working with people in your CV!

7. Construction

Construction can provide a great career opportunity for people who love using their hands and being outdoors. It’s a labour-intensive role, so you’ll need to be prepared for some heavy lifting as you work on exciting projects from home builds to schools to hotels.

It’s relatively easy to get started in construction by applying for jobs as a labourer. But you’ll need to show you’re not afraid of grafting and are a real problem-solver!

8. Estate agent

Many people are surprised to find out they don’t need experience to become an estate agent. Whether it’s selling or renting houses, estate agencies are often open to hiring trainees, so long as you display the right qualities. If you get it right, real estate can become a very lucrative career!

The most important thing to show is that you’re a self-starter, you can work to targets and you enjoy interacting with people.

You’re all set

Don’t let experience hold you back from making a career move. There’s a whole world of opportunities just waiting to hire inexperienced people like you – and we’ve listed only a few of those opportunities.

Browse the SonicJobs app to find a ‘no experience job’ near you today!

What is a blue collar job?

Blue collar jobs – you might have heard this term get thrown about. But there’s also the term white collar jobs and even pink collar jobs. So, what are they and what’s the difference between them? You may be wondering if you’re working in a blue collar job, and what this means. Knowing the difference between these types of jobs can help you to figure out the right career path for you.

If you don’t see yourself sitting in an office all day, becoming a blue collar worker could be just the fit for you.

What’s the difference between blue, white and pink collar jobs?

Blue collar jobs are those involving manual labour of some kind like mining, construction, quarrying and warehousing. Many blue collar workers will typically be on an hourly rate, rather than an annual salary.

White collar workers tend to earn more than blue collar workers, and these types of jobs are more office-based, like clerical, administrative or lab-based positions. White collar workers tend to be in a suit and tie, whereas blue collar workers are ready to get their hands dirty.

Pink collar workers have similar earning potential to blue collar jobs, but the work is based in the service industry, like hospitality, retail, or sales.

Top blue collar jobs in the UK

1. Welder – £25,000 average salary

A welder is a skilled worker who uses specialist tools to fuse metal together. There are different types of welders (MIG, TIG, GMAW) who each specialise in a different type of welding process. Welders could be making a wide variety of products from car parts to gates, or they could be working on repairing broken metal.

2. Warehouse operative – £18,579 average salary

Warehouse operatives can carry out a variety of warehouse-based tasks. This could be anything from picking and packing, to stacking shelves and unloading deliveries. Warehouse work is typically quite easy to get into as it’s one of the jobs that don’t require a degree or previous experience. 

3. Construction labourer – £20,536 average salary

As the job title indicates, being a labourer is labour-intensive! Labourers often work outdoors in all types of weather conditions. They can be involved in many aspects of a construction project from site preparation to lifting heavy loads to digging pits. Labour work is relatively easy to get into – the most important thing is showing a strong work ethic and a flexible attitude.

4. HGV Driver – £31,787 average salary

HGV drivers are heavily in demand in the UK right now. Following Brexit and border restrictions relating to COVID-19, the UK faces a shortage of drivers. HGV drivers transport goods long distances, often travelling overseas, working through the night and spending nights away from home. To get started as a HGV driver, you’ll need to obtain your Class 1 driving licence. 

Ready to roll up your sleeves?

Blue collar jobs are great for people who want to stay active and aren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty! If you don’t see yourself sitting in an office all day, becoming a blue collar worker could be just the fit for you.

SonicJobs has thousands of blue collar jobs (full-time and part-time jobs) on our app. All you have to do is click apply to get the ball rolling!

What jobs are dying out?

In the last decade, we’ve seen incredible advances in technology and the rise of the robot. As a result of the new tech, many jobs are at risk of being replaced by technology. As technology becomes more sophisticated, employers are adapting these new technologies to improve efficiency, boost profitability and remain competitive.

So what are some of the jobs most at risk of dying out?

  • Cashier
  • Travel agent
  • Textile machinist
  • Parking attendant
  • Meter reader
  • Switchboard operator
  • Typist
  • Data entry assistant

8 jobs that WILL disappear by 2040

1. Cashier

You need only nip down to your local Tesco to see how technology has replaced human workers. It’s not uncommon to do your weekly food shop without talking to a soul. Gone are the days of scanning your items with a cashier. Instead, supermarkets are expanding their self-service sections, as are fast-food restaurants. It’s only a matter of time before these self-service stations will dominate in all shops from supermarkets to clothes shops to restaurants.

2. Travel agent

Travel agents used to be a useful tool when the internet was just starting out. But in today’s society, the internet can just about account for all your needs and people tend to book their trips without the help of an agent. Websites like skyscanner.com, booking.com and airbnb have revolutionised the way we plan our trips abroad.

3. Textile machinist

A textiles machinist was once a popular job with plenty of work available. But here in 2022, there’s a smaller need for these professionals and automated machining software is standing in their place. Through machine automation, businesses have been able to produce items at a quicker rate and with more precision, far outperforming human ability. As a result, there are very few textile machinist roles that still exist in the UK, and it won’t be long before automation becomes a better option for companies using machinists in countries like Pakistan and the Philippines.

4. Parking attendant

Parking attendants used to be found in every car park, taking payments and checking for overstays. In today’s world, they’re rarely found. Ticket machines have become more sophisticated and are able to take payments and identify when cars overstay. As time goes on, more and more car parks will have this technology, completely obliterating the need for a parking attendant.

5. Meter reader

Remember the days when you used to get a knock on the door from the meter reader? Well, those days are pretty much shot. Nowadays, people can upload their meter readings online, or they have a smart meter which automatically submits their readings. 

6. Switchboard operator

The role of a switchboard operator is becoming more endangered as automated phone lines take their place. More and more businesses have implemented automated messaging systems on their switchboards to help direct callers to the right place. As we look ahead to 2040, we can’t see this role continuing to exist in many places.

7. Typist

Dictation technology is taking over the role of a typist. Smartphones have a basic dictation function on them, which many people use in place of typing. But businesses have even more sophisticated dictation technology which far outperforms the work of a human typist. This profession is on its way out!

8. Data entry assistant

Although many companies will still use the help of a data entry assistant, there’s no doubt that this role has taken a hit. Because of new technology, simple data entry tasks can easily be automated with the right software. 

Looking for a new career?

When looking for a new career, always think about the longevity of it. Is it likely to be replaced by technology, or is it a new up and coming industry? You’ll also want to make sure you only consider careers with good progression.

SonicJobs is home to thousands of fantastic career opportunities across the UK from part-time jobs to civil service jobs in London. Download and browse our app to get started.