Only one in three brits are happy with their job
We all wish for the perfect work and life balance. But for many of us happiness in the work place is a distant dream, according to a recent national survey undertaken for Lifetime, one of the UK’s leading leisure training providers.

Only 40 per cent of the 2,000 people surveyed said they were happy in their career. But this gloomy reality helps explain why more and more people are leaving office based jobs and re-training instead for vocational careers. Over half said that having variety was the most important part of their job and 26 per cent favoured helping others over sitting behind a desk.

Careers that involve helping others, like teaching, fitness instructing and policing, came out on top, ahead of office jobs such as accounting and insurance, which scored the lowest. This reinforces a trend which sees vocational careers which involve meeting new people and high levels of social interaction becoming an increasingly attractive prospect for those wanting a career change. When asked directly, around 25 per cent said a career in health and fitness appealed to them.

Heather Frankham, Managing Director at Lifetime, said: “People spend a significant proportion of their lives at work, so it’s vital they should want to get the most from their careers. Workers who can enjoy their job and maintain a good work/life balance hold the key to long-lasting happiness. Those who work for long hours in offices are usually too busy or tired to exercise and watch what they eat. As a result they often pay the price, with their health, work and relationships suffering.”

Gone are the days when a job was for life – over 70 per cent of those questioned have already changed their career more than once. Today, people want more from their jobs and realise there are many alternative options available to them. Interestingly, nearly 20 per cent said they were not qualified for their dream job, but when considering re-training for a new career, most said they would prefer part-time training or distance learning to a shorter full-time course.