Look at eastern England

Out of a 5.5 million total population, the percentage of people of working age is the joint second highest in the UK. Unemployment is lower than the national average, although it is higher in some parts of the region. There are over two million people employed in business, 75 per cent of them in service industries, 17 per cent in manufacturing and only 2 per cent in agriculture.

As well as the six counties the region includes the unitary authorities of Southend on Sea, Luton, Thurrock and Peterborough. It is one of the fastest growing of the English regions. Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are predominantly rural and agricultural areas with more than one third of the total population living in small towns and villages of less than 10,000 inhabitants. While most opportunities are found in and around the main population centres, qualified and experienced Service leavers should continue to find work everywhere.

In Bedfordshire there are employment opportunities, with the transport and distribution sector still growing and presenting openings. There is also MoD contract work available in everything from administrative to technical posts. IT and telecommunications are stagnant, there is little production and factory work in the area and the public sector is also slow. Housing costs are above the national average, partly because of easy access to London and Birmingham with good train services, and the M1 corridor.

Commercial property and major road infrastructure developments are booming in Essex, with many major schemes programmed, financed by leading investment funds. Other economic drivers like the Thames Gateway, the Harwich Haven Gateway and the developments around the M11 corridor will shape the future prosperity, strength and diversity of the economy. Two new towns, each of over 40,000 residents will be built within the next decade, to service Stansted International Airport. An even larger town is planned in the Corringham area, together with an expansion of the old Shoeburyness Garrison site. The county has a job surplus and needs people with the old craft skills.

East Anglia, employment continues to be stable with net employment gains expected as most industry sectors expand. Small companies are optimistic about staffing levels with the highest confidence from small manufacturers, small service providers, and micro public and utilities companies.

In Cambridgeshire, retail is growing, providing both part- and full-time employment. Warehousing is growing and the construction industry is now more buoyant than in the recent past and this should continue, as Peterborough continues to expand. There are some vacancies with large employers like KLM and Anglia Railways, but the finance industry is slow. Redevelopment of the area around Norwich Airport will add to retail growth, and the region's small, high tech companies generally have full order books with some difficulties in recruiting highly skilled labour.

There are some regeneration programmes that are good for employment; and there are still many opportunities for skilled people.

Opportunities and skills shortages
Shortages exist in building and construction, with opportunities for qualified electricians (16th Edition Regulations) and plumbers (CORGI). Industry needs multi-skilled engineers as well as generic engineers, with a particular lack of automotive avionic engineers. There are also skills shortages in transport and driving, particularly LGV C+E, LGV Class 1, fork lift truck and ADR.

Skilled manufacturing staff are in demand, the rail industry continues to have a serious shortfall of staff in all levels and disciplines, and airports need staff - particularly in passenger contact positions. Warehousing, logistics and distribution also offer good employment prospects

Although many authorities write off the sector, there is a shortage of well qualified IT and communications specialists, particularly in software applications and microelectronics. The region is also home to biotechnology research and development organisations. Call centres are always looking for employees, and customer service marketing and help lines offer opportunities.

Police forces continue to recruit and security work is available but salaries do not make the available jobs attractive. The shortfall in teachers continues to cause concern, while there are many unfilled positions in healthcare, nursing and community care services. Good sales staff will always find employment, and the leisure industry also needs constant filling will new blood.

There are few opportunities in agriculture and fishing, with those that do occur tending to be seasonal with low wages. Nevertheless, three-quarters of organisations report skills shortages. The most acute ones are for people with technical and engineering skills.

Salaries
A rough guide to salaries in the region is given below. This is inevitably very general and there will be variations between industries and also in various parts of the East of England.

Manual - £10,000 to £13,000
Semi-skilled - £12,000 to £15,000
Skilled and Supervisory - £14,000 to £20,000
Managerial -£18,000 to £30,000
Executive - £30,000 to £45,000 and upwards
House price guide
The following prices are a rough guide only to property prices and are liable to overnight change as financial factors in the country as well as in the region affect housing.

Location 2-bed flat 2-bed terrace 3-bed semi 4-bed detached
City £100,000 £130,000 £200,000 £300,000
Town £80,000 £110,000 £155,000 £235,000
Country £60,000 £90,000 £110,000 £170,000

Information courtesy of the Career Transition Partnership