24ur.com: What 'pays off' to study or which profession to choose?

Whilst the registered unemployment rate remains at 12 per cent, the Employment Service is forecasting 0.6 per cent employment growth by the end of the year. Which professions will employers be seeking and what are the earnings of these profiles?

Whilst schoolchildren have already settled well into the new school year, for students it is only just approaching. Nevertheless, the question arises whether they have chosen the right field of study or education, not only one that interests them, but above all one that will not lead them to the labour exchange after completing their education. So, which are those professions that employers are enquiring about most?

At the Employment Service, we enable unemployed persons to obtain NPK certificates in fields where needs are evident on the labour market. At the end of 2015 or at the beginning of 2016, we anticipate new inclusion of unemployed persons in non-formal education programmes for knowledge and competences that are lacking on the labour market. These programmes do not represent retraining, but rather the acquisition of knowledge and skills for performing specific tasks. We design tailor-made programmes together with employers and/or employers' associations. These programmes are aimed specifically at professions for which there is high demand. Employment Service of Slovenia As they told 24ur.com at the Employment Service of Slovenia (ZRSZ), in August this year employers enquired most about pre-school teachers and assistant pre-school teachers, primary school class teachers, subject teachers in primary schools, heavy lorry and articulated vehicle drivers, drywall construction workers, plasterers, workers for simple tasks in manufacturing activities, bricklayers, cleaners, waiters and domestic helpers in offices, hotels and other establishments, welders, toolmakers, sales assistants, music teachers in music schools, private music tutors, waiters and cooks.

ZRSZ also announced that for the second half of this year, optimism regarding the future can be detected amongst employers. The most optimistic are employers from financial and insurance activities, positive movements are also forecast in construction, hospitality and information and communication activities; according to size, large employers are the most optimistic. "For the second half of 2015, employers are forecasting 0.6 per cent employment growth. They will be seeking approximately 16 thousand workers. They will be seeking workers primarily for replacements (retirements, maternity leave, employee departures), and partly also due to expansion of activities," ZRSZ announced, adding that employers will most frequently be seeking workers in the above-mentioned professions, with the exception of professions in the education sector (teachers). "Among the professions that employers have forecast, there are again many professions that have been in deficit on the Slovenian market for quite some time, which means that employment opportunities for workers with these professional profiles are substantially higher compared to jobseekers in other professions," they add.

Regarding the multi-year future, ZRSZ believes that better employment opportunities will be available primarily to specialists from the field of information technology, engineering and natural sciences and new (green) technologies, specialists in the field of healthcare, nursing and pharmacy, marketing, finance and accounting, and specialists who will provide various consultancy services.

Currently, the greatest employment opportunities are available to persons with education from the following fields: mechanical engineers, mechanical engineering technicians, electrical engineers, electronics engineers, electricians, electromechanics, pharmacists, financiers, auditors, accountants, computer application programmers, software and application developers and analysts, cooks, waiters, bricklayers, carpenters, roofers, drywall construction workers, insulators, plumbing and gas installation and equipment fitters and servicers, welders, metal structure preparers and fitters, toolmakers, turners, mechanics and servicers of agricultural, industrial and other machinery, and heavy lorry and articulated vehicle drivers. These profiles are currently most lacking in our country.

What about salaries?

Many people decide on their chosen education also according to how much payment they can expect in the future if they get a job. In the magazine Moje Finance, together with employment agency experts, they checked how much certain professional profiles receive as beginners and how much after ten years of performing the same work. This refers to the net salary that workers receive in Slovenia.

We will present only those professions that are predicted to be most sought after in the future or whose profiles are already lacking now.

Net salaries in EUR for selected professions in Slovenia

Profession Beginner After 10 years

Lorry driver 600-700 700-950

Bricklayer 560-650 750-950

Cleaner 570-600 600-750

Sales assistant 600-700 650-800

Waiter 570-650 650-850

Cook 600-750 750-1000

Computer programmer 1000-1100 1300-2000

Website administrator 900 1250

IT application architect 1200 1800-1900

Secondary medical nurse in clinic 625 720

Graduate medical nurse 890 1050

Dentist 1100 1240-1480

Psychiatrist 1600 1800

General practitioner 1330 1500

Specialist doctor 1300-1600 1500-1820

Pharmacist 990 1240

Marketing specialist 800-900 1000-1300

Bank clerk at counter 650-850 750-1010

Stockbroker 1100-1200 1340-1700

Accountant 850-950 950-1600

The profession from the field of information technology is also very promising. (Photo: Thinkstock) So if you still do not know which direction to take, but do not wish to remain without employment after completing your education, whilst also wanting to have a solid salary, think it over and decide on one of the professions that will most likely be needed in the future.

The article was published on the portal 24ur.com on 18 September 2015.

Source: Academia (18. 9. 2015).

This English summary was produced automatically from the Slovenian article and is pending editorial review. Slovenska različica