There are many factors which influence the competitiveness of the UK in the finance sector. These factors include Regulation, Skills and Labour market. The following articles provide an overview of the current status of the UK in finance. Read them to get a better idea of the future outlook for the finance industry. And, of course, we’ll take a look at what you can do to make your career more appealing to employers. In addition to this, you should always be open-minded about new technologies and trends.
Financial services
The Financial Services sector employs tens of thousands of people and is concentrated in certain geographical areas. However, the jobs in financial services are concentrated in a relatively small number of large firms. These firms account for over seventy per cent of jobs in the sector, compared to only thirty per cent of jobs in other sectors. Here is a map that shows where the jobs are concentrated. The London Datastore has a template for plotting jobs in the UK.
Regulation
The UK’s financial sector remains one of the most globally competitive in the world. This competitiveness is the result of a number of factors, including the availability of capital, skilled talent, and a supportive regulatory environment. In addition, the UK has excellent quality of life. But what are the best practices for UK financial services firms? Read on to find out how UK firms are competing in the global marketplace. The UK also has many advantages that rival its competitors.
Labour market
There is a large degree of uncertainty around the UK’s labour market, but recent figures have revealed that UK employers are keen to recruit. The number of small businesses planning future pay rises is near a record high, and the number of people out of work is close to a record low. Employers are trying to hold on to workers, knowing that it is difficult to replace them. The unemployment rate is also at an all-time low, with the economy still growing, but it is still far below the level it reached in 2009.
Skills
As the financial industry continues to recover from its slump, the UK has a few measures in place to ensure it is as competitive as possible. Across the country, business volumes have increased in recent months, and professional body TheCityUK recently reported the first quarterly improvement in confidence for over two years. Meanwhile, other research bodies are making positive noises about the British economy, and pundits are cautiously predicting that growth will increase over the next six months.
Exports
How competitive is finance UK in exports? British financial services exports are struggling to recover from the impact of COVID-19 and Brexit and remain at record lows. In the third quarter of 2018, they were valued at 14.5 billion pounds, up from 13.8 billion pounds in the second quarter of last year. However, since the vote to leave the EU, this figure has fallen by 10%, most likely as a result of the EU’s new tax rules on financial services.
Skills shortages
Skills shortages are a serious problem, with a third of UK employers struggling to find suitable candidates. The COVID pandemic has made the situation worse, as it has increased the level of automation in many industries. As a result, thousands of critical roles are currently unfilled. According to the Financial Services Skills Commission and the Professional & Business Services Council, the causes of this shortage are many. COVID has increased the rate of automation in many industries, and globalisation is driving the demand for new skills. New technologies and changing workforces are creating jobs that combine knowledge, interpersonal skills, and technology.