Working hours key to happy employees

National Careers Week aims to encourage companies to think about their employees’ wellbeing and happiness and new research has asked British workers about the things they most want from their work.

The YouGov surveyof 2,000 adults, commissioned by the Oxford Open Learning Trust, found that while money is predictably the biggest motivator behind career choice (64 per cent), over half of the respondents cited working hours as an important factor (55 per cent). With people striving for a healthy work-life balance, it is perhaps unsurprising that workers are looking for employment that fits in around their lifestyle and allows them enough time to themselves. 

It is also encouraging to see ‘enjoyment’ listed as the joint third most considered aspect during the job search process. Finances will always be central to a lot of career changes, but half of Brits (50 per cent) say they would follow their heart and look for jobs which align with their personal interests. 

The top 10 most important factors when choosing a new job are:

1. Salary: 64%

2. Working hours: 55%

3. Location: 50%

=. Personal interest / enjoyment: 50%

5. Job security: 40%

6. Working environment: 37%

7. Opportunities for progression: 26%

8. Opportunities for training / learning a new skill: 23%

9. The opinions of my family / partner: 12%

10. Status: 9%

The research found that over a quarter of British workers (28 per cent) are considering switching careers in the next decade, while 13 per cent are possibly looking to move within the next four years.

It appears that Brits are prepared to put the effort in for these new jobs, with nearly three in five UK adults (58 per cent) saying they would consider training/retraining for a new career. This figure rises to around two thirds (66 per cent) among current workers.

Dr Nick Smith, courses director and founder of the Oxford Open Learning Trust, said: “People often see the start of the year as a good opportunity to start afresh and plan for a brighter future.

“Moving jobs is one way of achieving a lifestyle shift and it’s really interesting to see the main reasons why people are looking to make such changes.

“While money is always going to be an important consideration, it is pleasing to see that the nation is looking after their own interests too, with things like location and enjoyment listed highly.”

The survey was commissioned to launch the Profession Picker tool, which is designed to help adults who are thinking of making a career change. Each year, the Oxford Open Learning Trust serves learners that might need an extra qualification such as a GCSE or A Level in order to get their desired job and start a new career.

To use the tool, head to: http://www.ool.co.uk/the-profession-picker/