Hot on the heels of UK figures showing the highest unemployment rate since 1996*, research from Gumtree.com shows that half of working Brits (49 per cent) are worried about their current job security, and 44 per cent of us are daunted by the job hunting process. Following the unemployment rate rising from 7.9 per cent to 8 per cent,* only 11 per cent of Brits claim to be very confident about keeping their job.
Within these figures:
- 45-54 year olds are most concerned, with 62 per cent worried about their job security
- This is followed by 35-44 year olds, at 58 per cent
- Women are also more daunted at the prospect of job hunting than men, at 45 per cent
If facing redundancy, results show that a 63 per cent of people don’t feel they’d have the right skills or experience to change industry and 49 per cent feel they don’t have the right qualifications to step into a new field. However, 36 per cent would consider a career change if redundancy came knocking.
The research also shows that 28 per cent of 18-24 year olds would consider social media one of the best ways to find a new job, using websites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter - reflecting the increasing role of technology and the internet as a means of tapping in to networking opportunities.
Sam Taylor from Gumtree.com said, “The study shows working Brits are feeling the strain and increased pressure to keep their jobs. The prospect of finding a job can be daunting and jobseekers in 2011 will undoubtedly have to take a savvy approach”
To help jobseekers through the continued period of uncertainty and make the job search less intimidating, Gumtree.com has launched a new online Career Finder tool at http://careerfinder.gumtree.com/. Developed by Gumtree.com with careers expert and author John Lees, the Career Finder helps jobseekers understand their core skill sets and pairs them with various jobs that suit their skills - opening doors to new job opportunities.
To see current job opportunities or to read the advice guides visit www.gumtree.com/jobs.
