Half of Brits are unfulfilled at work, but satisfaction increases with age

Work accounts for around half the waking hours of the average full time employee, so it would be hoped that this time is largely enjoyable and engaging. However, this is not the case for many Brits, according to research conducted by Home Learning College – the UK’s biggest provider of accredited distance learning courses. In fact, 52% said they are unfulfilled at work, while a further 36% have never had a job they loved. It seems that women are more likely to find happiness and satisfaction at work. Two thirds of females reported having had a job they loved at some point in their life, compared to just over half of men (58%). Dissatisfied workers may be heartened to hear that the sense of professional fulfilment increases dramatically with age. While less than half of people aged below 55 reported being fulfilled in their current role, this rises considerably to over 60% for those in their mid 50s and above. On a regional level, workers in the South West are the most content in the country – over two thirds (69%) have had a job they loved and 52% are fulfilled by their current role. Those in the North East and East Midlands can only look on enviably, as they top the polls for least fulfilled and least likely to have ever loved a job respectively. Dave Snow, Academic Director at Home Learning College believes that the vast range of vocational courses available nowadays provides the ideal opportunity to gain new skills and move into a more satisfying professional position. He comments: “It is easy to feel trapped in an uninspiring job, particularly in such turbulent economic times when jobs are in relatively short supply. However, a specialised vocational qualification can be just the thing to stimulate change and gain a more engaging role. That’s one of the reasons that we have noticed a marked increase in student numbers during the recession, from 59,000 in 2009 to 65,000 this year. “While there is more to happiness at work than money, receiving an appropriate level of pay can make a real difference to personal satisfaction. With that in mind, it’s worth highlighting research conducted by the University of Sheffield which showed that vocational qualifications can increase income by between 5% and 23%, depending on the subject area.” For information on all of Home Learning College’s vocational distance learning courses please visit http://www.homelearningcollege.co.uk. ENDS

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