The UK job market is constantly evolving. While automation and globalization have reduced demand for some traditional unskilled roles, new opportunities are emerging all the time. Here’s an overview of some of the top unskilled jobs that are currently in high demand across the UK.
Warehouse Operatives
With the continued growth of online shopping and home deliveries, warehouse operatives are needed to pick, pack and dispatch orders. It’s unskilled manual work that involves lifting, carrying, scanning and sorting packages. No prior experience is required and on-the-job training is provided.
According to research by the Warehousing Education and Research Council, the UK warehousing sector currently provides around 950,000 jobs. Further growth is forecast, with an additional 50,000 warehouse workers needed over the next five years.
Cleaners
Office, domestic, commercial, industrial – cleaners are required across all sectors. It’s unskilled work with minimal education requirements. Most employers provide equipment and on-site training.
The cleaning industry contributes over £24 billion to the UK economy each year and employs around 437,000 people. Demand for cleaners is expected to hold steady, with the industry projected to create over 100,000 new cleaning jobs by 2024.
Kitchen Assistants
Kitchen assistants provide support to chefs and catering staff. Their duties include food preparation, washing dishes, cleaning work areas, unloading deliveries, and serving customers. No prior kitchen experience is required.
According to 2019 data from workforce management platform Planday, kitchen assistant job openings increased by 13% compared to 2018. The role offers flexible hours and opportunities to progress into cooking positions.
Waiting Staff
Also known as waiters and waitresses, waiting staff work in bars, restaurants and other food service establishments. Key duties include taking customer orders, serving food and drinks, processing payments, and keeping dining areas clean and tidy.
The UK restaurant industry continues to grow year-on-year. Restaurant chain openings increased by 3.3% in 2018 alone. With no formal qualifications required, waiting staff roles are accessible entry-level positions with plenty of vacancies across the country.
Delivery Drivers
From takeaway food to online shopping, delivery drivers are in high demand across all sectors. A basic driver’s license is usually the only requirement. Training is provided on the job.
Research by Hermes found that the parcel delivery sector needs to recruit 72,000 new drivers over the next five years to keep up with increasing demand. Home food deliveries are also rising rapidly, leading to ample job opportunities for unskilled drivers.
Care Assistants
Also known as support workers, care assistants provide care and assistance to elderly, disabled or ill people in care homes or private residences. It’s an unskilled role focused on empathy and communication abilities.
The UK’s ageing population is greatly increasing demand for care services. According to Skills for Care, adult social care has around 122,000 staff vacancies across the country. Care assistant job opportunities are available nationwide.
Retail Assistants
Working in shops, supermarkets, and other retail outlets, retail assistants complete tasks like operating cash registers, shelf stacking, cleaning, inventory management and customer service.
Despite tough trading conditions, the retail sector still employs around 3 million people in the UK. Entry-level customer assistant roles are easy to find for job seekers with no qualifications or experience.
Hotel Room Attendants
Also known as room cleaners or housekeepers, hotel room attendants clean and tidy bedrooms and bathrooms in hotels, resorts, cruise ships and other accommodation facilities. It’s an active job with no prior experience required.
Tourism generates £127 billion for the UK economy annually. With over 27 million foreign visitors each year, demand for hotel staff remains strong. Room attendant vacancies are commonly advertised across the country.
Security Guards
Providing protection services for corporate offices, retail stores, public events and private residences, security guards patrol premises, monitor CCTV footage, control access and respond to emergencies. Most training is provided on the job.
Private security is a major growth industry worldwide. Approximately 370,000 people work in security roles in the UK currently. Ongoing recruitment is driven by employers like G4S, one of the largest private sector employers in the country.
Catering Assistants
Catering assistants work behind the scenes at cafes, restaurants, schools, hospitals, aged care facilities, events venues and other locations that offer food services. Daily tasks include setting up buffets, making hot drinks, preparing simple dishes, and keeping kitchens clean.
As a relatively versatile role combining elements of kitchen assistants and waiting staff jobs, catering assistant positions are commonly advertised across the UK’s large hospitality and food service industries.
Shelf Stackers
Working in supermarkets and retail stores, shelf stackers unpack deliveries, move stock from storage onto shelves, rotate products and ensure correct pricing. It’s a fast-paced physical job requiring no qualifications.
Even with the rise of self-serve checkouts reducing the need for traditional cashier roles, major UK retailers like Tesco and Sainsbury’s still require thousands of unskilled staff to keep shelves fully stocked across their national store networks.
Telesales Operators
Working in call centers, telesales operators contact customers to promote products and services using scripts provided by employers. Some telesales roles involve making appointments or providing general information.
Call centers account for around 1% of the UK workforce, providing over 1 million jobs. Entry-level telesales roles only require basic literacy, communication skills and computer abilities with training provided on the job.
Traffic Management Operators
Also known as flaggers, traffic control officers manage vehicle and pedestrian flow around roadworks, construction zones and public events. They wear high visibility vests and use signs, signals and barriers to guide the public.
With major infrastructure projects like HS2 underway and events activity bouncing back post-pandemic, demand for traffic controllers is rising. No qualifications are needed and most employers provide on-site training.
Farmworkers
Agriculture relies on unskilled manual labor to harvest crops, feed and water livestock, clean sheds and yards, and complete other farming duties. No experience is necessary and all training is done on-site.
Brexit workforce changes have increased reliance on British farm laborers. Seasonal opportunities are available, along with more permanent roles on dairy, fruit, vegetable and livestock farms across the country.
Fast Food Crew
Working in fast food outlets and takeaway chains, fast food crew members cook, clean, operate tills, take orders and serve customers. It’s a fast paced job with tasks that can be learned quickly on-site.
The UK fast food market is valued at over £8 billion and provides employment for thousands of entry-level workers. Major chains like McDonald’s and KFC are recruiting nationwide.
Domestic Cleaners
Cleaning private homes, domestic cleaners carry out tasks like vacuuming, mopping, dusting, changing bed linen, cleaning bathrooms, washing dishes and ironing clothes. Some experience is useful but many employers provide training.
Demand for domestic cleaners remains high. Changing household demographics and longer working hours are making it harder for people to find time for cleaning. Apps like Helpling enable cleaners to easily find clients.
Kitchen Porters
Kitchen porters support kitchen crews by washing dishes, unloading deliveries, transferring supplies, disposing of rubbish and deep cleaning equipment and work areas. No qualifications or experience are required.
All kitchens, from pubs and cafes to hospitals and aged care homes, rely on porters to maintain cleanliness. It’s a junior position with opportunities to progress into food preparation roles.
Laundry Assistants
Working in laundromats and for commercial laundry services, laundry assistants unload, sort, wash, dry and iron linen used in hotels, hospitals and other facilities. Attention to detail is important but no prior experience is needed.
Outsourced laundry services are used widely across sectors like hospitality. Demand for laundry assistants fluctuates seasonally, with vacancies peaking over summer. Entry-level positions are often available.
Telecoms Engineer’s Mates
Telecoms engineer’s mates work alongside engineers installing, repairing and maintaining telephone, internet and TV services in homes and businesses. They provide support with equipment, access and basic tasks.
BT Openreach alone requires over 1,300 new engineers and mates across the UK each year. It’s a good entry point into the telecoms industry, with paid training provided enabling mates to progress to engineer roles.
Handypersons
Doing odd jobs like basic plumbing or electrical repairs, furniture assembly, painting, fencing and lawn mowing, handypersons provide general maintenance services to households and businesses. Most pick up skills on the job.
An ageing population and busy younger demographics are increasing demand for handypersons across the UK. Apps like Local Heroes connect clients with self-employed handypersons offering home maintenance services.
Vehicle Valeters
Vehicle valeters clean and polish the interior and exterior of cars and vehicles for dealerships, rental companies and private customers. Most employers provide all training and equipment needed.
New car sales in the UK exceed 2.2 million per year. Dealerships rely on valeters to ensure vehicles are pristine for new owners. Mobile valeters serving private customers are also in high demand.
Conclusion
While technology and globalization have transformed the UK’s employment landscape, ample job opportunities remain for unskilled workers across many industries. With the right attitude and work ethic, ambitious individuals can enter and progress in the roles highlighted here.
For those seeking even greater job security and career development potential, vocational training opportunities like apprenticeships offer affordable ways to gain qualifications and skills while earning an income. However, the jobs above demonstrate that displaced and disadvantaged workers can still find decent work opportunities even without higher education.
