More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of the UK’s 18-35 workers have career wanderlust and want to travel more internationally with their job, according to new research.
A survey of 1,000 people carried out by Decathlon found that although 55 per cent of 18-35 year-olds have travelled internationally for work at least three times in the past year – some as many as seven times – just 32 per cent were satisfied with the amount of air miles clocked up during this time.
What’s more, 63 per cent of respondents in the 18-35 age bracket also said that they would be more likely to accept a job that offered round-the-world opportunities; 21 per cent higher than the average figure across all age groups. When quizzed on why they would like to travel more, 53per cent of 18-35 year olds said they think it would make their job more exciting, 37 per cent see work travel as a cost-effective way to see the world, and 23 per cent also said that they don’t like to be tied to one place in their career or life.
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Perhaps worryingly for some employers, 19 per cent of 18-35 year olds say they would be likely or very likely to leave their current job within the next 12 months to go travelling, due to a lack of opportunities to satisfy their wanderlust in their role, highlighting the consequences of not offering (or not being able to offer) international travel to their staff. Given that experts predict that these age brackets will make up 35 per cent of the workforce by 2020, it’s a vital demographic to pay attention to.
Thibault Peeters, CEO at Decathlon UK, commented:
The hyper-connected, technology-focused nature of today’s global landscape, coupled with cheaper air fares and the growth of new, developing markets has made international business trips more commonplace than ever before. Clearly, this had led to both an appetite and an expectation amongst younger workers to travel internationally in their chosen career. The battle to attract and maintain great young talent continues to gain momentum in the UK. Career wanderlust is therefore something that employers should recognise, take into consideration and offer to prospective candidates as part of the job package in order to stay competitive.
Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!
Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.
Aphrodite is also a professional painter.
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