The two links below will enable you to search for current job vacancies
on this site for either:
Vacancies information about all current vacancies relating to the Isle
of Man Government and an Application Form for same, or
The DTI Job Centre for public and private sector vacancies on the Isle
of Man.
The 2001 census recorded that the Isle of Man's economically active
population was almost 40,000 having grown from 27,500 at the time of the
1981 census.
The Island's changing economic structure has led to an overall reduction
in unemployment beginning in the latter half of the 1980s and has served
to remove most of the seasonal element from the figures. Current
unemployment (2002) at some 0.5 % of the economically active population
is well below the United Kingdom's national average.
Among the sectors providing major employment are financial services,
manufacturing, construction, distribution and professional and
scientific services, whilst the Island's public sector and civil servant
workforce is in the region of 9,000 and at about 23% of the economically
active population. The Isle of Man Civil Service Vacancies are listed on
their web site.
To create further capacity for economic growth the Government continues
to consider measures which will increase the size and productivity of
the workforce from amongst the existing population. The Department of
Trade and Industry provides opportunities for training and retraining by
direct support at its training centre and by financial support to
employers providing on the job training. The Island's Job Centre is
active in its efforts to assist persons to obtain employment and
employers to obtain suitable employees.
The changing nature of the employment market has led the Government to
place increased emphasis on the better use of available labour,
preferring investment in high value added enterprise by new and existing
firms to projects involving new labour intensive employment. It is
recognised by the work permit authorities that new companies
establishing themselves in the Island may need to bring key personnel
with them.
The Isle of Man has a tradition of good industrial relations, strikes
and other disruptions being rare in comparison with the United Kingdom.
A number of United Kingdom based trade unions have branches on the
Island but they operate within an entirely separate framework of
employment legislation. An independent Manx Industrial Relations
Service, with a full-time b, is available to
handle enquiries from both employers and employees. There is also a
local Employment Tribunal with a range of functions under the Island's
employment legislation.
Assisted by United Kingdom management consultants expert in the field of
employment law, the Manx Government has overhauled the Island's
employment legislation, replacing the previous limited requirements with
a system which is simple and offers enhanced protection for workers
without placing excessive burdens and restriction on employers.
The result has been the introduction of the Employment Act 1991 and the
Trade Unions Act 1991. Between them these two Acts deal with such
matters as unfair dismissal, registration of trade unions "cooling off
periods" before industrial action, limitations on picketing and so on.
The Employment Act incorporates previous requirements such as the issue
of written particulars of terms and conditions of employment. Provision
for redundancy payments is made under the Redundancy Payments Act 1990.
In addition, the Trade Unions Amendment Act 1995 and the Employment
Amendment Act 1996 have followed the earlier legislation.
Looking for Work - Introduction
Most people have an idea of where and when to look for work, so this
article is written as a check list of what you should be doing and where
you should be looking if you're serious about finding employment on the
Isle of Man.
Job Centre
The
Isle of Man Government Job Centre provides vacancy boards for all types
of work, the vacancies change quite frequently and it's worth visiting
regularly. The staff can arrange for interviews for suitable vacancies
and offer support and advice.
Address: Job Centre
Nivison House
31 Prospect Hill
Douglas
Isle of Man
Post Code: IM1 1QS
Telephone : 01624 687014
Fax : 01624 686453
Careers Centre
The Department of Education provides a Careers Service Centre dealing
with young people, although can offer advice to adults.
Address: Careers Service
Hill Street / Upper Church Street
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM1 2SG
Telephone : 01624 685128
Fax : 01624 687016
Web Site
http://www.gov.im/careers/
Many jobs are advertised in local Newspapers, papers include the Courier
(free paper), Examiner and Independent. The Isle of Man Newspaper
website provides advertised positions
Agencies
Employment agencies can often work in two ways. They employ and pay you
while you work on a contract they have with an employer, or they fill a
vacancy for an employer who will then employ you directly. These
vacancies can be permanent or temporary and there are agencies who
specialise in specific occupational areas.
It's not unusual for 'temps' to find full time work through agencies.
Employers may well treat a temporary contract as a 'probationary'
period. Of course for some employers and employees alike, temporary
contracts give them both flexibility.
Employers Premises
Many employers still have vacancy boards on their premises. Large stores
such as food retailers and DIY companies use internal notice boards as
these are seen by thousands of customers, and there is often no need to
go to the expense of advertising as suitable applicants can be attracted
through these notices.
It is also common practise for these types of companies, whose staff
continually changes, to provide application forms even when they have no
vacancies. Ask at customer service desks.
The Web
If you're reading this, you will already know that the WWW is a great
resource for jobs. Employment and recruitment agencies use it a great
deal having their own websites and carrying vacancies - nationally and
internationally.
Most sites are well marketed through search engines, so a search there
is a must. Do a little reading on how to make the best use of each
engine, how to combine words effectively, it will save time if you make
specific searches for, say, graduate recruiters or specialist occupation
agencies, rather than trawling through hundreds of thousands of general
search results.
Once you've found your sites you will find vacancies, with on line
directions on how to apply. With others an added feature will be a CV
posting service, very useful speculative approach to those hidden
vacancies.
Plan - Your Search, Get Organised
To make the best of your job search you need to concentrate on the
above, plan your search, plan the time you spend in the visible and
hidden job markets. The more that you put into your job search in terms
of research, time, effort and planning the more likely you are to
succeed in finding those vacancies.
The Island has excellent health care, high educational standards,
efficient transport and communication systems, together with a buoyant
economy, political stability and traditional independence. There is a
relaxed and peaceful way of life in the Isle of Man with an untroubled
atmosphere and friendly residents.
Whilst offering all the services and facilities of a modern European
centre, the Island also boasts a fine selection of restaurants, shopping
and leisure facilities. Yet away from the busy commercial centres, the
Island has retained a pace of life which is the envy of most urban
dwellers.
With the tourist industry complementing other sectors of the Island's
varied economy, residents enjoy amenities such as the theatre, cinemas,
modern hotels, health clubs, a casino and night clubs in addition to the
many public houses and top-class restaurants which belie the Island's
modest population.
If you are taking up residence in the Isle of Man upon your arrival
there are various aspects of Island life you will need to consider.
Benefits and Services
New residents will find that certain public services and benefits are
not immediately available to them on arrival. For example, public
authority housing is restricted to those with at least ten years'
residence on the Island; five years' residence is required to qualify
for Income Support and six months for Family Income Supplement.
Health Care
New residents, who should register with a General Practitioner on
arrival, are entitled to the full range of services from the date of
taking up residence. Prospective new residents with special medical
requirements are advised to make enquiries of the Department of Health
and Social Security to ensure that appropriate facilities are available.
Driving and Vehicle Licences
New residents must obtain an Isle of Man driving licence. Persons
holding current driving licences issued in the UK, EU, Channel Islands
and certain other countries can obtain an Isle of Man driving licence by
presenting their existing driving licence to the Vehicle Licensing
Office, Department of Transport’s Licensing Office, Sea Terminal
Building, Douglas.
However, persons holding driving licences other than those issued in the
UK and Channel Islands may have to take a driving test and should
contact the Vehicle Licensing Office to establish whether this will be
necessary.
United Kingdom and foreign registered motor vehicles must be
re-registered as soon as possible after the owner takes up residence. In
order to comply with this requirement, persons should attend the Vehicle
Licensing Office, Department of Transport’s Licensing Office, Sea
Terminal Building, Douglas. It will be necessary for owners of UK
registered motor vehicles to present the following documents:
the existing vehicle registration document
a current insurance certificate for the vehicle
if the vehicle is more that 3 years old it will also be necessary to
produce a vehicle testing certificate.
These certificates can be obtained by contacting the Vehicle Testing
Centre, Tromode, Douglas. Telephone: +44 (0)1624 627431.
Persons wishing to re-register foreign vehicles (i.e. from outside the
United Kingdom) or with commercial and other types of vehicle should
contact the Vehicle Licensing Office to enquire about additional
registration requirements.
For further information, please contact the Vehicle Licensing Office,
Department of Transport’s Licensing Office, Sea Terminal Building,
Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2RF. Tel: 01624 686836.
Work Permits
Whilst there are no special restrictions on access to the Island (other
than those under the Immigration Act which apply equally in the United
Kingdom) the ability of newcomers to take up work is governed by the
Control of Employment Acts which require anyone who is not an "Isle of
Man worker" to have a permit before starting employment or
self-employment in the Island. (There is a certain limited number of
occupations for which permits are not required, e.g. doctors, dentists,
ministers of religion or the police).
Qualification as an "Isle of Man worker" includes being born on the
Island, resident for at least five years, married to an "Isle of Man
worker", having received full-time education during residence (and
having remained on the Island thereafter) or having a Manx-born parent
who has spent the first five years of their life on the Island. Full
details are given in the Department of Trade and Industry web site.
Income Tax
As soon as possible after arriving in the Isle of Man, new residents
should contact the Assessor of Income Tax so that appropriate returns
and any advice on income tax liability can be issued.
Voters List
Forms are sent to all households annually in January and at that time
your details should be entered and returned to the Treasury, Voters
Section, for inclusion on the electoral roll.
For further information, please contact the Voters Section, Economic
Affairs Division, The Treasury, Illiam Dhone House, 2 Circular Road,
Douglas, IMI IPQ. Telephone: +44 (0)1624 685750
Residential Property
The construction industry has been swift to respond to the demands of a
growing Island population and homes of all sizes, to suit most tastes,
pockets and lifestyles, are available in a variety of locations.
Potential buyers will find a comprehensive range of properties available
on the Island including apartments, bungalows, traditional terraced,
semi and detached houses and quaint country cottage retreats right up to
large country and coastal properties.
Property Rates
Upon becoming the owner or occupier of a property on the Island, new
residents should contact the Rating Section of the Treasury so that its
records can be updated. The rating year commences on the 1st April each
year.
For further information, please contact the Rating Section, Finance
Division, The Treasury, Government Offices, Bucks Road, Douglas, IM I
3PX. Telephone: +44 (0)1624 685631/2.
Public Sector Housing
Both Central Government, through its Department of Local Government and
the Environment, and several of the district local authorities,
including Douglas, hold and control a sizeable stock of public sector
housing. However, Government policy encourages home ownership and
emphasis is placed on mortgage assistance for first-time buyer homes in
the freehold market whilst continuing the construction of state-owned
premises, where appropriate, currently including the provision of
housing for the elderly.
Foreign Nationals
Immigration legislation on the Isle of Man is similar to that in the
United Kingdom and applies to nearly everyone who is not a British
Citizen or who does not have the right of abode in the United Kingdom,
although Irish citizens and EEA citizens exercising Treaty rights are
exempt from many provisions.
If you are not a British citizen you should contact your nearest British
Embassy, High Commission or Consulate, who will be able to establish
your immigration status and advise you on the procedure you will need to
adopt to enter the Island. It may be that you will need an entry
clearance before you travel and if so you should apply in good time.