JOBLIFT ANALYSES THE GROWTH IN THE UK’S VIRTUAL REALITY JOB MARKET
London, 17th May 2018 – The use of virtual reality (VR) has become more and more widespread in recent times. From the military to marketing, industries are embracing this new technology and its potential to unlock possibilities. With this in mind, job search platform Joblift has analysed the United Kingdom’s virtual (or augmented) reality job market and has noticed a significant increase of 6% in vacancies. Notably, while gaming still dominates, the fundraising sector has established itself as an early adopter on the virtual reality scene.
THE VIRTUAL REALITY JOB MARKET INCREASES BY TWICE AS MUCH AS THE UK AVERAGE
According to Joblift, 10,162 virtual reality job vacancies have been posted in the UK in the last 24 months. These positions have increased by 6% on average each month – double the 3% increase seen in the UK’s job market as a whole. Unsurprisingly, web developers and programmers were the most in-demand, with a quarter of all job postings advertising these roles. In second place (and more surprisingly) fundraisers were advertised in 7% of postings, with job listings highlighting the use of virtual reality technology in street and door-to-door campaigning. Researchers followed with 4%, and with 3% of all vacancies, business development managers ranked in fourth. Interns rounded off the top five, accounting for 1% of all vacancies.
WHILE GAMING STILL DOMINATES, THE FUNDRAISING SECTOR EMERGES IN 3RD PLACE AS A TOP VR INDUSTRY
Looking specifically at sectors, the entertainment industry took the top spot accounting for 13% of all job ads – 58% of these vacancies were directly associated with gaming. Healthcare came in second place, hosting 10% of all virtual reality jobs. Interestingly, the fundraising sector has emerged as a key virtual reality hirer, as highlighted by Charity Digital News. The industry was responsible for advertising 8% of all VR jobs, with Greenpeace, Oxfam, Cancer Research UK, MSF, and Alzheimer’s Society making up the top five employers using this technology. However, despite the increase in vacancies, positions in the fundraising sector are seemingly harder to fill. The average VR charity job spent 45 days online before being filled, 10 days longer than the average time VR jobs were closed in other sectors. The research sector ranked in fourth place, with universities, schools and colleges advertising 7% of all VR positions in the last two years. Rounding off the top five, the finance sector advertised 6% of all augmented reality roles.
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD MAKES THE TOP FIVE
London holds the most virtual reality job postings, with 32% of vacancies advertised there, more than six times the number located in second place Manchester (5%). In third place, Cambridge holds 4% of all VR vacancies, with Hemel Hempstead following closely with 3% – largely due to employers Epson’s UK head office in the area. With 3% of the augmented reality share, Bristol ranks in fifth place. The city’s university has recently invested in a new VR and AR facility aiming to secure Bristol’s position as a virtual reality leader both nationally and internationally.
About Joblift
Joblift is a job search platform providing candidates with the most intuitive and frictionless experience during the recruiting process. Joblift applies latest machine learning techniques and big data-based algorithms to offer the optimal match between employer and job seeker. Currently active in the US, the UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands, Joblift cooperates with over 4.000 partners to incorporate over 10 million vacancies on its platform. Joblift is a highly energetic and entrepreneurial team led by the experienced founders Lukas Erlebach (CEO), Alexander Rausch (COO) and Malte Widenka (CTO), who most recently held C-Level positions at companies such as Zalando, Amorelie and Frontlineshop.