Employees look to banish the Monday blues

Despite today being Blue Monday, research reveals that 57 per cent of UK workers are set to move jobs this year, with IT being the second-most unsettled industry

Today is officially Blue Monday: the day when the winter weather, post-Christmas blues and credit card bills become too much for people to handle.

But according to research from Investors In People, improvements to the economy have got UK employees thinking about switching jobs more than ever before.

The organisation questioned 2,000 workers across the UK, and discovered that 57 per cent of those are considering moving jobs this year, a 10 per cent increase year on year.

And overall job satisfaction is down four per cent this year compared with the previous year.

A total of 32 per cent believe the jobs market has improved this year, with 16 to 24-year-olds being the most optimistic, and firms in London, Brighton and Bristol facing the biggest exoduses, with 66 per cent, 64 per cent and 63 per cent respectively considering a move.

The most at-risk sector, according to the research, is professional service, with a whopping 68 per cent considering a move, closely followed by IT and telecoms with 67 per cent.

And in a warning to employers, 33 per cent of those questioned are unhappy in their current roles, up from 24 per cent last year. The main reason for unhappiness is poor management, followed by low pay, not feeling valued and a perceived lack of career progression.

To keep staff, Investors in People recommends three top actions: competitive pay, work enjoyment and cultivating a good employer reputation.

Paul Devoy, head of Investors in People, said: “As the UK economy warms up, staff are thinking about where their career is headed and are aware of the opportunities out there. This poll should be a stark wake-up call to many businesses.”