Poll: 28% British workers aren’t satisfied in current job; 64% cited barriers to changing career
A study into the career satisfaction of British workers has revealed that over a quarter are not satisfied with their current job, and just one in four have no plans to change their career in the next five years. The research, carried out among 1,200 British workers for specialist training company Train4TradeSkills, also discovered that fewer than two in five people say that they are in their ideal job.
- 28% of British workers are not satisfied with their current job
- While 39% said that they were in their ideal job
- Workers in leisure and hospitality are some of the most satisfied, with 27% of workers in this sector agreeing they are very satisfied with their job
- Manufacturing and IT came next on 24%
- In contrast, only 14% of workers in retail and 15% in the transportation sector say they are very satisfied
Job satisfaction
When asked about what improves job satisfaction, salary, hours and achievement came high on the list.
- 71% of British workers say that ‘doing work I enjoy’ is key to job satisfaction
- 64% believe a decent salary is crucial for satisfaction
- 59% cited ‘a sense of achievement’ in your work
- 46% said that being able to work the hours you want is important
But despite this, it seems that better salaries don’t always equal greater job satisfaction; only 24% of those earning £25,000 - £29,999 are dissatisfied in their job, compared to 27% who earn between £35,000 and £49,999.
Barriers to change
The study shows that overall, the vast majority (84%) of British workers agree there were aspects of their current job that they don’t like, but 64% said that there are factors stopping them from changing career.
- 37% said that they weren’t able to take a pay cut
- 35% said that they didn’t know what to do instead
- While 29% said that not being able to afford to retrain was a barrier
Mike Head of Train4TradeSkills, commented on the research, saying that ‘there are many people working in Britain who are not satisfied in their current job and while pay is deemed important, it’s interesting to see that big salaries do not always equal career satisfaction. People are looking for flexible hours, being their own boss and doing work they enjoy and are keen to find a career that offers these benefits.
‘The process of retraining and changing careers can be a challenge, but by looking for cost-effective courses that offer virtual learning and the ability to work while you learn, many Brits could find themselves embracing a career they love in the next few years.’
