Over half of UK workers wish they could change career, rising to 72 percent for those aged between 25 and 34, according to research by long term investment savings specialist Standard Life.
The survey also looked into what the causes of job satisfaction were and the key points that made people satisfied at work.
34 percent of people said that having job security was key to happiness at work, and a quarter of people felt that making a difference to people’s lives was also essential.
A quarter of people also appreciated feeling valued within their organisation and working with people they consider friends as well as colleagues.
For many it would seem that the desire to strike out on their own is a reason for thinking about a career change. Almost six in 10 UK workers have considered starting their own business, with those between the ages of 25 and 34 most motivated to do so.
Wanting to be your own boss is the biggest driver for setting up or thinking about setting up a business, with more than half of workers saying they’ve had to miss a significant personal event due to work commitments.
When it comes to what motivates us in our jobs, we tend to change as we get older. Career progression is considerably more important to those under 34 compared to those over 34, and salary becomes less important as we pass the 50 milestone.
“As we go through our lives, what motivates us and makes us happy in our job changes. For some, the priority is moving up the career ladder, for others, having the security to support their family. As well as making us happy now, our career is also a way to ensure our plan for the future is on track – which is why it’s good to see so many people view their pension as an important benefit at work,” said Julie Hutchinson, Consumer Finance Expert as Standard Life.
The desire for our job to help set us up for the future is clear; a pension is one of the most essential employee benefits, rising significantly in importance as people progress through their career: 39 percent of 18 to 24 year olds highlighted this as an important benefit, doubling to 84 percent for those over the age of 55.
It is between 25 and 30 when UK workers feel they can start saving meaningfully, but it’s not until between the ages of 41 and 45 that we start to feel financially secure.
Rebecca joined the HRreview editorial team in January 2016. After graduating from the University of Sheffield Hallam in 2013 with a BA in English Literature, Rebecca has spent five years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past she has been part of the editorial teams at Sleeper and Dezeen and has founded her own arts collective.
