Career Coaching
in Wales

Employment Landscape

Wales is currently facing a mixed job market with clear opportunities in some areas and real challenges in others. Large-scale investment announcements totalling over sixteen billion pounds signal substantial new roles across sectors such as telecoms, energy, aerospace, ports, and data centres, including Vodafone’s 5G expansion, GE Aerospace’s modernisation at Nantgarw, RWE’s battery storage project in Pembroke, and Vantage Data Centers’ transformation of the Bridgend engine plant. At the same time, sectors such as higher education are contracting—Bangor and University of South Wales are cutting nearly 300 roles combined, and Cardiff University has proposed around 400 job reductions amid financial strain. Wales also continues to face persistent labour shortages in care, construction trades, engineering, and health care, reflecting both demographic pressures and skills gaps. Employment rates remain slightly below the UK average, with long-term unemployment rising, particularly among women and minority ethnic groups.

Dominant Industries

Typical Roles

Hiring Patterns

Public and private investment in green energy, digital infrastructure, aerospace and semiconductor fabrication are driving hiring in engineering and technical roles, although some traditional sectors such as higher education and retail continue to contract. Health, social care, and life sciences remain under pressure due to demographic demand and skills shortages.

"Job seekers in Wales must navigate both emerging opportunities in infrastructure and care, and a market where competition is fierce in shrinking sectors."