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Sector Outlook
Working in local government can offer you a wide variety of career possibilities
in areas such as building control, social work, education, finance and
environmental health. In recent years the sector has been under significant
pressure as the Government has sor t to reduce the national debt by cutting
funding to council budgets. The forecast suggests that by 2015
the workforce will have declined to 2.2 million.
However, as in any sector oppor tunities still exist. According to LGjobs.com,
the official government job site adver tising council vacancies, there are over
200 jobs in social and care work, 150 in administration and 90 in education.
In contrast employers such as The Fire and Rescue Service have no
recruitment oppor tunities.
A dispropor tionate number of women work in local government usually in
the soft skill areas of care and education with more men working in building
control and trading standards. The industry also has a number of par t time
oppor tunities and would suit anyone needing a second income or flexible
work arrangements.
For administrative oppor tunities, local government employers look for
individuals with organisational ability, attention to detail, accuracy and
good customer service skills. For accounting roles a mathematical ability is
required. Some jobs will require you to have achieved a relevant degree in
disciplines such as town planning, conservation, teaching or social work.
However, apprenticeship oppor tunities do exist for school leavers who are
keen to enter the workforce. As well as using websites such as that of the
Local Government Association
(www.jobtrain.co.uk) to find work keep in
mind that most local authorities host their own vacancies.
Local Government