A quarter of the workforce will find a new job in the next six months
More than a quarter of the UK’s workforce will change employers over the next six months, according to new research recently published.
Randstad polled 12,000 people in the UK aged 18 to retirement age in January 2024. The research found that 27 per cent of workers plan to change jobs within the next six months — compared to 24 per cent this time last year, 22 cent in 2022, and 19 per cent in 2021. In January 2020, pre-pandemic, 26 per cent said they planned to change jobs within the next six months.
And almost a fifth of employees in the UK (19 per cent) report having changed employers in the previous six months to January 2024 — compared to 16 per cent in January 2023, 15 per cent in January 2022 and 12 per cent in January 2021. In January 2020, before the pandemic struck, 17 per cent of workers reported having changed employers in the previous six months. Men are more likely to have changed jobs (23 per cent) than women (16 per cent).
chart 1: UK changing jobs trends
The main reasons workers gave for leaving their previous employer was to Improve work-life balance (41 per cent) although 30 per cent report having received an offer they could not refuse — and almost quarter have left due to a Lack of career opportunities (24 per cent). Between a fifth and a quarter (22 per cent) said they left because they Lacked interest in their current job. A fifth (20 per cent) left due to a Lack of flexible work options.
When it comes to choosing a new job, the research shows work-life balance remains the top priority for workers (important to 60 per cent of workers), alongside Attractive salary and benefits (58 per cent) and Job security (53 per cent). The next most important factors when choosing a new role were Good training (52 per cent) and Workplace equity (50 per cent). Workplace equity — whether an organisation offers employees equal opportunities regardless of age, gender, ethnicity — displaced Pleasant work atmosphere to emerge as a new addition to the top five ranking.
DISCRIMINATION & OBSTACLES TO CAREER PROGRESSION
While career progression is also important to workers — with 57 per cent reporting they don’t have enough opportunity to develop in their current role — more than half of workers who consider themselves a minority (53 per cent) feel they have faced obstacles in their career progression due to their identity. This compares to a third of those who do not identify as a minority (34 per cent).
chart 2: obstacles to career progression
CAREER PROGRESSION HIT BY WORKING FROM HOME
The research also found that working from home may be holding back career progression: almost three in every five workers (59 per cent) think that being physically present in the workplace increases their chances of being promoted.
The belief that physical presence can lead to progression is stronger for Gen Z respondents (69 per cent), compared to just half of Boomers.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
A quarter of the workforce now uses AI regularly, with 10 per cent using it daily. Over half of workers believe AI will affect their role in the next five years — but only 4 per cent expect to lose their job to AI (compared to over a quarter being ‘very worried’ about losing their job to AI in summer 2023).
Our team of experts at Kingsgate Recruitment can offer help and support on how to land that perfect role. We have a wealth of experience across a range of fantastic clients in different industries and are on hand to offer advice and career guidance from creating the perfect CV to securing your ideal job.
So, if you’re a candidate looking for a new role or a business looking to hire permanent staff members or need to recruit flexibly to meet demand, give us a call to discuss your plans for the future. We have seen a huge increase in the number of roles, talented candidates and fantastic graduates contacting us to secure their next role. Our team are hand to give expert advice and can look at sourcing top talent, ahead of your competitors, for when you’re ready to hire.
You can contact us via our website, drop us an email, or give us a call on 020 8549 7212.
Source : HR News