[UK] 39% of workers considering seeking new job within 12 months

In the UK, new research has revealed that 39 per cent of workers are considering finding a new job in the next 12 months and 59 per cent of employees without options for workplace flexibility plan to leave, HR News reports.

The annual What Workers Want survey by the people insight platform New Possible, forecasts growing volatility in the nation’s labour market.

New Possible found that:

• 39 per cent of employees are likely to look for a new role in the next 12 months – up from 33 per cent in 2024.

• Demand for flexibility continues to surge: 59 per cent of employees without flexibility say they intend to leave compared to 50 per cent a year ago.

• Pay expectations remain above inflation, with an average 7 per cent salary increase considered ‘fair’ by employees in 2025, slightly below the 8 per cent sought last year.

• Concerns over job security are growing: 14 per cent of respondents believe they’re at risk of redundancy – up from 10 per cent in 2024 – reflecting increasing unease about the economy.

Nate Harwood - founder of New Possible - said, “2025 is shaping up to be a turbulent year for the job market, with employees increasingly seeking new opportunities and greater flexibility. At the same time, high pay expectations pose a challenge for employers already grappling with rising costs like National Insurance Contributions as they work to attract and retain talent.”

Overall job satisfaction across sectors reportedly remains steady at 70 per cent, with engineering and manufacturing (75 per cent), and charities (73 per cent) enjoying the highest satisfaction levels. By contrast, healthcare (68 per cent), retail (66 per cent), transport and logistics (63 per cent) were at the lower end.

When questioned about their biggest frustrations at work, respondents stated that poor leadership and unhealthy cultures have the biggest impact on their likelihood of leaving. Colleagues, staffing shortages, pay and poor work-life balance were also primary reasons why many are planning to seek a new role.

Unhealthy workplace cultures were most often described as “greedy”, “challenging” and “toxic” – with respondents frequently feeling undervalued.

The top 5 cited reasons for leaving were:

1. Poor leadership

2. Unhealthy culture

3. Colleagues

4. Lack of resources (inc. staffing)

5. Pay dissatisfaction

Respondent's top 5 reasons to stay were:

1. Colleagues

2. Flexibility

3. Fulfilment

4. Healthy culture

5. Good benefits

The issue of workplace wellbeing continues to be precarious, with 30 per cent of employees reporting a decline over the past year. Workers in transport and logistics (45 per cent), IT (40 per cent), sales (40 per cent) and retail sectors (35 per cent) have experienced the sharpest falls.

One significant shift reportedly saw IT – the most satisfied sector in 2024 – now report growing dissatisfaction (69 per cent), with particular frustrations focused on pay and work-life balance.

The What Workers Want survey also found that 35-44-year-olds were the most likely age group to move jobs in 2025, prompted to make a change by pay and workload demands.

Source: HR News

(Quote via original reporting)

In the UK, new research has revealed that 39 per cent of workers are considering finding a new job in the next 12 months and 59 per cent of employees without options for workplace flexibility plan to leave, HR News reports.

The annual What Workers Want survey by the people insight platform New Possible, forecasts growing volatility in the nation’s labour market.

New Possible found that:

• 39 per cent of employees are likely to look for a new role in the next 12 months – up from 33 per cent in 2024.

• Demand for flexibility continues to surge: 59 per cent of employees without flexibility say they intend to leave compared to 50 per cent a year ago.

• Pay expectations remain above inflation, with an average 7 per cent salary increase considered ‘fair’ by employees in 2025, slightly below the 8 per cent sought last year.

• Concerns over job security are growing: 14 per cent of respondents believe they’re at risk of redundancy – up from 10 per cent in 2024 – reflecting increasing unease about the economy.

Nate Harwood - founder of New Possible - said, “2025 is shaping up to be a turbulent year for the job market, with employees increasingly seeking new opportunities and greater flexibility. At the same time, high pay expectations pose a challenge for employers already grappling with rising costs like National Insurance Contributions as they work to attract and retain talent.”

Overall job satisfaction across sectors reportedly remains steady at 70 per cent, with engineering and manufacturing (75 per cent), and charities (73 per cent) enjoying the highest satisfaction levels. By contrast, healthcare (68 per cent), retail (66 per cent), transport and logistics (63 per cent) were at the lower end.

When questioned about their biggest frustrations at work, respondents stated that poor leadership and unhealthy cultures have the biggest impact on their likelihood of leaving. Colleagues, staffing shortages, pay and poor work-life balance were also primary reasons why many are planning to seek a new role.

Unhealthy workplace cultures were most often described as “greedy”, “challenging” and “toxic” – with respondents frequently feeling undervalued.

The top 5 cited reasons for leaving were:

1. Poor leadership

2. Unhealthy culture

3. Colleagues

4. Lack of resources (inc. staffing)

5. Pay dissatisfaction

Respondent's top 5 reasons to stay were:

1. Colleagues

2. Flexibility

3. Fulfilment

4. Healthy culture

5. Good benefits

The issue of workplace wellbeing continues to be precarious, with 30 per cent of employees reporting a decline over the past year. Workers in transport and logistics (45 per cent), IT (40 per cent), sales (40 per cent) and retail sectors (35 per cent) have experienced the sharpest falls.

One significant shift reportedly saw IT – the most satisfied sector in 2024 – now report growing dissatisfaction (69 per cent), with particular frustrations focused on pay and work-life balance.

The What Workers Want survey also found that 35-44-year-olds were the most likely age group to move jobs in 2025, prompted to make a change by pay and workload demands.

Source: HR News

(Quote via original reporting)