Recruitment Agencies based in Inverness-Shire, Scotland, UK

Inverness-shire was a county of north-west Scotland until 1975, when it was divided into two separate regions: the Western Isles and the Highlands. The 3,000 square kilometre area is deeply rural, with a population of around 361,625. The county's main town is Inverness and the region is served by Dalcross Airport.

Economic overview and salaries

Today, the county shares its borders with Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, Moray, and Argyll and Bute. It has an employment rate of 73%, which is slightly above the Scottish average of 72%, and the area enjoys a higher economic activity rate than many countries in the European Union.

Only 26.8% of Inverness-shire inhabitants hold a NVQ4+, meaning that the working age population is, on average, less qualified than that of Scotland as a whole. Over the last decade, the average earnings of a full-time member of staff in the Highlands & Islands have risen, although they are still around 9% less than the Scottish average (£393 median gross weekly earnings). Recruitment agencies frequently list vacancies in the public sector (particularly in the Island areas) and seasonal tourism.

Key industries and employers

The majority of the workforce is employed in public administration, education and health (32.8%), distribution (25%), construction (7%), transport/communications (6%), manufacturing (9%), and agriculture/forestry/fishing (2.3%). Key employers include Lifescan Scotland Ltd (Inverness), NHS Highland, Scottish Natural Heritage, a range of contact centres, and many small businesses. People looking for employment opportunities in the Inverness-shire area will find many job vacancies in the above sectors listed with online recruitment agencies.