British workers restless and considering job change

Employees across the United Kingdom are disengaged, with less than half currently happy in their job and well over a third frequently thinking about quitting, according to the latest survey results from global workforce solutions leader, Kelly Services®.

Three quarters of UK employees intend to search for a job with another company within the next year. The ‘Baby Boomer’ generation is the most restless with 81% stating they will be searching for another job in the next 12 months.

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Only half of UK employees are committed to their current job, with over a third unlikely to voice their potential plans to leave.

These are the first findings from the latest Kelly Global Workforce Index (KGWI), an annual survey conducted by Kelly Services. Almost 170,000 people in 30 countries participated in the survey, including more than 3,500 in the UK.

“Employees have experienced unprecedented economic turmoil and as a result are seriously questioning their career goals. We have seen a general negativity in people’s outlook towards their current jobs and a startling restlessness across all ages and experience levels,” said Andrew Cook, General Manager UK and Ireland at Kelly Services.

Results of the survey in the UK show:

• Only 35% of workers feel valued by their employer or gain any real sense of purpose or meaning from their work. The ability to ‘excel or develop’ is identified by 77% of people as the key to providing a sense of meaning.
• When considering one position over another, survey respondents cite personal fulfillment and personal growth/advancement as the two main areas of consideration, far beyond salary and benefits. However, financial bonus and promotion are still the two preferred ways for people to be rewarded for a job well done, although remarkably 19% of employees say they require no recognition at all.

A key development over the last two years is that over a third of people now use their social media network when making career or employment decisions.

“Unless employees feel engaged in meaningful work and offered ongoing opportunities for growth, many believe it is in their best interest to keep their careers in a perpetual state of motion,” Andrew Cook added.