Kent and Medway labour market information

Welcome to the Kent and Medway Labour Market Information Hub, your go-to resource for insights into local employment trends, career opportunities, and industry demands. Designed specifically for young people and schools, this platform offers valuable information to help guide your career planning and educational choices.

What is labour market information (LMI)?

Labour market information (LMI) tells us about the world of work. It covers information such as how much people earn, how many hours they work, the skills employers are looking for, the opportunities available, and much more.

This wealth of information can be found in a range of sources including government reports, local authority publications, online vacancies and from employers. It might be presented as data and charts, lists or descriptive content which provide insights and intelligence. LMI can cover the current labour market as well as what might happen in the future.

Every local area has its own distinct labour market and while global, national and regional LMI offers valuable insights, understanding the sector strengths and requirements of your local area can be important for making informed decisions about your future.

A careers adviser can help you to get the most out of LMI. When considered alongside other factors, it can be a valuable tool for considering your career options and what you do next.

How is the labour market changing?

We’re experiencing a rapidly changing labour market driven by advances in technology, shifts in global markets, changes in the population and the urgent transition towards decarbonisation.

We can expect technological change to continue, especially in AI (artificial intelligence) which will create exciting new career opportunities as well as transform the ways in which we do some jobs. Automation and AI will impact some jobs more than others, especially those that involve routine tasks, but it’s hard to predict exactly what will happen in the future.

More recently, technology has enabled us to work more flexibly. Some people spend part of their week working remotely from home and for some careers it’s now easier to work for companies based anywhere in the UK, or even overseas. Entrepreneurs can also use digital platforms to enhance their businesses.

You can read more about how digital skills can help you to navigate these developments below.

The Kent and Medway labour market

Kent is the largest county in England and its geographical diversity supports lots of different careers. It boasts a significant maritime border and coastline, extensive agricultural land, and includes densely urbanised areas forming part of Greater London. Depending on where in Kent and Medway you live, there’s an exciting variety of career opportunities.

While job opportunities exist across all sectors to replace people who leave or retire, some industries are experiencing rapid growth and others face significant skill shortages. The good news is that young people in Kent and Medway are going to be highly sought after to fill these in-demand positions.

Skills for the future of the Kent economy

Digital and Green skills are essential for the future of not only the Kent economy but the whole of the UK. Click the drop downs below to find out more.

Employers in Kent and Medway are looking for people with a range of digital skills – from basic to advanced. These include:

essential digital skills such as confidence using devices like a computer, tablet or mobile phone for simple tasks.
digital skills for business such as using office software or social media marketing tools.
coding, data analysis, and skills for AI and automation.
industry-specific skills such as CAD (computer-aided design), BIM (building information modelling), GIS (geographic information systems) and CGI (computer-generated imagery).

Advanced digital skills such as cyber security specialist and data analyst are in demand across all sectors, so your options are wide and not limited to tech industries.

You can find out more about the impact of technology on different sectors and the skills required on our sector pages.

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The skills needed in the green economy – industries and careers working towards environmental sustainability - are sometimes referred to as green skills. These might be the technical skills needed for specific jobs which help us reduce the effects of climate change or adapt to it, or they might be skills that are used across a wider range of jobs such as regulatory skills.

We need people with green skills to help the UK meet climate targets and drive sustainability for the future. You can find out more about how the different sectors in Kent and Medway are working to meet environmental targets on our sector pages.

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