In addition to all using English, what else do Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US have in common? These four countries also share commonalities in the most sought-after occupations by employers. The resume search trends of employers in these countries align with recognized skills and talent shortages. Talents in healthcare, sales, skilled trades, and the hospitality industry (chefs) are common pain points in each country, with a significant presence in resume searches in Australia, the UK, and the US.
This conclusion is based on an analysis conducted on resume search data from the job site Indeed. The analysis ranked the top 10 job categories most sought after by employers and recruiters in these four countries based on resumes searched in 2023.
The analysis shows that the global employment boom seen during the post-pandemic recovery period is gradually fading. Talent competition has significantly decreased, with job postings in Australia decreasing by 31%, Canada by 36%, the UK by 38%, and the US by 28%. Despite this, skill shortages persist in most of the labor markets operated by Indeed, with talent competition remaining higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The analysis report indicates that “resume searching is an active step that signals that other (more passive) strategies, such as simply posting job ads online, are not as successful.”
The report found that resume search trends are synchronized with talent shortages for each country. While each country faces different labor market challenges, these commonalities tie them together. For instance, the aging population poses significant pressure on global healthcare systems, resulting in widespread and sustained skill shortages for doctors, nurses, and elderly care workers.
In the US, registered nurses top the list of most searched job titles in resume searches, accounting for 4.1% of searches, followed by sales representatives. Industries listed as having the highest demand include those that do not necessarily require a college degree. Considering the continuously rising cost of university education in the US, this is noteworthy.
According to Indeed.com data, the following are the top 10 job titles most searched by employers in the US:
– Registered Nurse
– Sales Representative
– General Nurse
– Mechanic
– Accountant
– Electrician
– Customer Service
– Chef and Cook
– Physical Therapist
– Retail Staff
In Canada, the most searched term in resumes last year was “sales,” accounting for 3.6% of resume searches, ahead of millwright (2.6%) and mechanic (2.5%).
Healthcare is not as prominent in resume searches in Canada, with nurses (0.7%) and registered nurses (0.4%) being the only high-ranking healthcare-related searches.
However, Canada sees a much higher volume of searches in the technical industry compared to other considered countries.
According to Indeed.com data, the following are the top 10 job titles most searched by employers in Canada:
– Sales Representative
– Millwright
– Mechanic
– Accountant
– Electrician
– Chef and Cook
– Customer Service
– Plumber
– Nurse
– Support Worker
In Australia, the most searched term by employers or recruiters is childcare, with 3.0% of resume searches looking for childcare or early childhood education experience. Sales representatives account for 2.4% of resume searches, with mechanics (1.9%) ranking third.
However, the most common industry appears to be healthcare, with physical therapists (1.9%), general practitioners (1.8%), registered nurses (1.7%), nurses (1.3%), and psychologists (1.3%) all featuring in resume searches.
According to Indeed.com data, the following are the top 10 job titles most searched by employers in Australia:
– Childcare
– Sales Representative
– Mechanic
– Physiotherapist
– General Practitioner
– Registered Nurse
– Chef and Cook
– Occupational Therapist
– Nurse
– Psychologist
In the UK, “nurse” accounts for a high proportion of resume searches at 6.9%. Faced with high staff turnover and low staff morale, employers are actively trying to attract nurses to mitigate the widespread and persistent skill shortages.
Chefs once again hold a significant position, accounting for 3.6% of resume searches, second only to sales representatives at 3.8%.
Nursing roles, especially those catering to the elderly or disabled, are prominent, with support workers (2.4%) and care assistants (1.6%) ranking high. This trend aligns with the aging population in the UK.
According to Indeed.com data, the following are the top 10 job titles most searched by employers in the UK:
– Nurse
– Sales Representative
– Chef and Cook
– Support Worker
– Care Assistant
– Mechanic
– Customer Service
– Accountant
– Electrician
– Teaching Assistant