UK workforce set to give employers a nightmare

The survey, by website totaljobs.com, reveals that almost a quarter of those planning to leave their jobs next year cited career advancement as their main reason, leaving bosses with an employment nightmare.

Reasons for employee despondency is a lack of motivation in the workplace, leading to the creation of, what the website terms, the nomadic employee.

This is especially prevalent in workers aged 20 and under. The survey found that half of the workforce within this age group had already had between two and five jobs since leaving full time education.

The group believes the problem shows no signs of slowing, with 35 per cent of respondents believing that it is acceptable to stay in a job for less than three years.

However, employers in Northern Ireland can take heart in the fact that 19 per cent of the workforce their believe over ten years is an acceptable amount of time to stay in a job.

Keith Robinson, commercial director for totaljobs.com, said: “The results reveal that the UK workplace no longer believe in the concept of a job for life.

“Companies need to realise that they must offer employees consistent career advancement if they are to attract and retain the new breed of worker or risk losing their best talent to competitors.”

Surprisingly, despite recent government attempts to press the issue, flex-time is less important to employees, with only two per cent citing it as a motivating factor.

The survey also suggests that today’s employee’s are more interested in the variety and challenge of a role, 46 per cent, and promotional and career advancement opportunities, 20 per cent.