New years work resolutions fuel reskilling revolution

One in five workers in the UK (20%, 5.5 million) are set to move jobs this New Year and two-thirds of the UK workforce (63%, 17.7 million) are looking to improve their skills in a bid to better their career prospects, new poll findings from Foundation Degrees show. With 89% of the workforce stating that career satisfaction is central to happiness in life and three-quarters
(75%) claiming that they are currently unhappy at work, sorting out career concerns is high on the agenda for the British workforce in 2005.

UK business stands to reap the rewards of this motivated workforce, despite the need to adjust to seasonal employee movements. While for some employees the answer to work woes seem to lie in a total change of job, others are opting to take charge of their career destiny by increasing their skill base. One in two (48%) believe that pursuing relevant training would help them achieve happiness at work and one in three (39%) agree that possessing a qualification that reflects their skills would increase their confidence and happiness at work.

To ensure a workforce achieves optimum satisfaction, and in turn productivity, the evidence suggests company directors should take this opportunity to encourage their employees drive to improve their skills and boost their career happiness. The poll reveals that 80% rate a supportive boss as important or very important to their happiness and satisfaction in the workplace.

The importance of achieving career satisfaction is evident from the poll. For many Britons, unhappiness at work impacts across all areas of their lives. 45% say that it takes over an hour each day to unwind from the stresses of the workplace, while one in ten (11%) say that they never manage to unwind from work at all and that it is always on their mind. Further one in three people (37%) wake up in the middle of the night worrying about work-related issues.

It is not just the unhappy worker that suffers from job-induced stress, as one in three people (34%) admit that they take out work woes on close family and friends. One in seven (15%) say that work has been the cause of serious family arguments and one in twenty (5%) say that job pressures have intruded so far into their home lives as to result in the break up of their relationship with a partner. Given that the poll showed that family and work were regarded as the two most important elements of life to overall happiness (valued over money, socialising and hobbies), it is vital that people achieve satisfaction in the workplace.

Paul Davies from Foundation Degrees comments: Although it is clearly worrying that so many Britons are unhappy in their current career position, it is extremely positive that so many workers are set to take action to redress this situation in the New Year. While for some this may represent a change in job or career, it is encouraging to see that others are keen to improve their satisfaction within their existing jobs by increasing their skills base.

This drive to upskill is beneficial for employees and employers alike. For employees it will help them gain access to the more challenging career roles that they regard as key to their overall happiness. For employers this increase in motivation can only signal a corresponding increase in productivity. They should actively welcome this sign of initiative and ensure that they are taking the appropriate measures to support and retain their motivated workforce.

Foundation Degrees offer a means by which employers can ensure that they offer the career development and training opportunities that these workers demand, both at the beginning and throughout their employment. Because they are designed by institutions in conjunction with employers, they provide graduates with the direct skills needed in their industry whilst also offering employees the opportunity to develop their skills and achieve greater job satisfaction.