Carers Are The Most In Demand Job Roles For 2025

New research has revealed the most in-demand job skills across Wales in 2025, with Caring Personal Services roles topping the list.

The analysis of ONS job market data by SEO agency Dark Horse looked at over 40,000 live job adverts in Wales in May 2025, finding that almost 3,000 were for caring personal services – a higher total than any other sector. This makes caring personal services Wales’ most in-demand profession, and means it’s home to only 4.7% of the UK’s caring personal services opportunities. Yet, it is still only the third most popular area in the UK for these jobs, only offering more jobs than Northern Ireland (1.9%) and the North East (4.1%).

The areas within Wales experiencing the highest demand for caring personal services roles are:

• Cardiff (312)
• Swansea (282)
• Carmarthenshire (205)
• Powys (198)
• Rhondda Cynon Taf (152)
• Caerphilly (135)
• Neath Port Talbot (134)
• Bridgend (133)
• Pembrokeshire (130)
• Denbighshire (128)

Wales’ top 10 most in-demand jobs (2025)

1. Caring Personal Services (2,877)
2. Sales and Marketing (2,089)
3. Other Elementary Services Occupations (1,611)
4. Teaching and Childcare Support Occupations (1,439)
5. Road Transport Drivers (1,299)
6. Teaching Professionals (1,287)
7. Information Technology Professionals (1,251)
8. Nursing Professionals (1,168)
9. Food Preparation and Hospitality Trades (1,053)
10. Elementary Cleaning Occupations (977)

The study also analysed the rate of jobs available three years previously, in May 2022, to see if employment opportunities in these areas were declining, on the rise, or stable. The demand for caring personal services professionals in Wales has fallen 40.8% since 2022, while IT roles have dropped by more than half (59.93%) in the same period.

There are no areas of professional growth in Wales

The data shows that all industries in Wales are showing a decline in job ads since 2022, with an average of -40.6% growth. The most stable is road transport drivers, boasting a decline of only 3.5% compared to 2022. Other job roles seeing less drastic decline are metal working machine operatives (-6.3%), senior officers in protective services (-7.8%) and elementary cleaning occupations (-8.7%). All other sectors have seen a decline in job ads greater than 10%.

Roles in Decline

Several industries have seen sharper drops in demand. Caring and personal services have declined 40.8%, well over a third, while administrative occupations within finance are down 45.9%. Nursing professionals have also seen a 52.5% drop in demand since 2022.

The ten job categories with the steepest declines in Wales are:

1. Elementary Sales Occupations (-81.7%)
2. Web and Multimedia Design Professionals (-80.13%)
3. Printing Trades (-70.75%)
4. Customer Service Occupations (-67.08%)
5. Bed and Breakfast and Guest House Owners (-66.67%)
6. Transport Associate Professionals (-63.89%)
7. Information Technology Professionals (-59.93%)
8. Customer Service Supervisors (-59.41%)
9. Elementary Storage Occupations (-58.39%)
10. Animal Care and Control Services (-58%)

A shifting landscape

Commenting on the findings, Libby Mayfield, head of marketing at Dark Horse stated:

“This isn’t just about numbers, it’s about survival in a crowded market. Companies aren’t only competing for customers; they’re battling for the right talent. From sales pros and marketers to teachers and carers, these roles are the backbone of the UK economy. At the same time, AI is rewriting job descriptions, making some roles obsolete with one (figurative) hand while creating new opportunities with the other. The winners will be the businesses that can cut through the noise and attract people who care.”