77% UK workers confident; and 3 in 10 say they'd start their own business if they did lose job
Despite gloomy stories on the state of the UK job market , UK workers are feeling very positive, our latest survey for Legal & General’s new quarterly Job Security Index. The insurance company has been tracking British workers’ confidence in their job security since the start of 2012.
The latest survey finds Britons' confidence in their future job prospects is strong across the board.
- Working UK adults employed in full time employment are slightly more confident about their job security (77%) than those engaged in part time employment (67%), but the overall message would appear to be that people are not currently worried about their job security
- Just 3% of the workers questioned for the Job Security Index believe that they are currently at risk of unemployment
- Under one in ten, (8%) say they are looking for a new post which can offer them better job security
- 29% believe that their current job is so secure that they are not actively looking for other jobs
Legal & General’s Job Security Index, based on our research, also asked UK workers what they would do if they were to lose their job.
- Nearly three in ten, 28%, UK workers said they would consider starting their own business
- 37% said they’d consider working on a self-employed basis as a contractor or freelancer
- Workers in Northern Ireland were the most likely to consider starting their own business (31%)
- Followed by those in the West Midlands (30%) saying that they would consider this as an option
- Over half (55%) of all respondents said that they would consider working part time if they were to lose their job
Director of Legal & General’s general insurance business Mark Holweger said: “It’s really encouraging and refreshing to see such levels of confidence by UK workers. It’s also interesting to see such a positive attitude towards potential unemployment, with so many keen to consider other employment options such as becoming self-employed or starting a business. This increased confidence will hopefully be reflected in the consumer market to the benefit of the UK economy, as well as the individuals concerned.
“However, what is a significant worry is that that over two thirds of workers (68%) told us that they had no cover in place to ensure they could continue to meet essential regular payments if they should lose their job.
We hope that the Job Security Index will also act as a prompt to people of how important it is to be prepared, so if they should unfortunately find their circumstances change, then they, their family and their home would not be immediately affected and have a financial cushion in place to help.”
