With a Chancellor who thinks that the UK economy is in its worst crisis for 60 years, continuing news reports of recession and credit crunches galore, the job market has seen a sharp increase in the number of unemployed recently. But is it all doom and gloom? The simple answer is “no”. The public sector is still recruiting happily, with more than 55 pages of public sector and utilities vacancies in a recent national newspaper on one day alone. This plethora of public sector vacancies shows how buoyant the jobs market is, despite the depressing numbers reported in the news.



Chief amongst those public sector jobs are railroad jobs and employment opportunities within the rail industry. The railways are an integral part of UK business infrastructure, and they have to be maintained and run, no matter what the rest of the economy is doing. Rail employment has always been seen as a reliable industry to move into, offering job security, good pensions and good wages in comparison to other sectors. In an economy that is working hard to maintain momentum, the railways have to be running at optimum efficiency to allow freight and passengers to be moved around the country effectively. That takes manpower, and a lot of it.

Despite the fear of a deepening recession, London is gearing itself up to the 2012 Olympics by putting in new infrastructure across the whole of the capital and the East End in particular. That means more railways, and consequently more rail jobs on offer. The major overhaul of London's transportation system is essential if the arteries of the capital are to remain free flowing and unclogged. Rail jobs include everything from platform assistants to highly qualified civil engineers, so the range of railroad jobs available encompasses a broad range of professions. Salaries for civil engineers can range from £40,000 to £60,000, depending on experience. Then there are the benefits, including pension plans, reduced rail fairs for family members and other perks. Rail job packages are some of the most attractive in the public sector, so it is unsurprising that they generate a big response when advertised.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has estimated that the generous pension schemes offered by the public sector make workers in these positions 12% better off financially than private sector workers on the same salary. So the benefits of working within the public sector (apart from greater job security) are obvious.

The UK has a rich industrial history, with the railways at the very heart of its success. As the UK moves into a new era, the railways are still essential to the profitability of UK PLC. If you include into that equation the promotion of the railways as an alternative means of transport for beleaguered car drivers, then the railway's future looks assured. In an age where job security is seen as a thing of the past, rail jobs may offer the only, truly secure form of public sector employment available. People will always need the railways. And the railways will always need people. It's a symbiotic relationship that benefits everyone, particularly those who choose to work within the industry.