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Top jobs in safety in greatest demand right now, says recruiter

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Senior safety professionals who can influence culture, lead transformation, and align health and safety with wider business goals are in growing demand by employers, the recruiter Irwin & Colton have said.


Partner Michael Colton said that construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing, are where most of these roles are being advertised. These are sectors where organisations increasingly view safety as a “core ESG metric.”

Writing for their blog, Colton added that hybrid HSE and ESG roles are also on the increase, with roles a blend of safety with environmental and sustainability responsibilities.

Professionals with experience in carbon management, ethical supply chains, and social impact are therefore finding new opportunities in “evolving, multi-disciplinary roles”, said Colton.

Senior safety professionals who can influence culture, lead transformation, and align health and safety with wider business goals are in growing demand. Photograph: iStock

It comes as the percentage of new vacancies in health and safety went up by at least 10 per cent in October after a period of uncertainty reflecting an unstable economic climate, said the recruiter.

“After a muted first half of the year, the recent uptick in hiring activity feels significant, not just a blip,” said Michael Colton. “Whether this proves to be the start of a sustained recovery or a short-lived surge remains to be seen, but momentum is building again.”

“For both employers and professionals, now is the time to re-engage with the market, refine strategies, and prepare for what’s next.”

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