- Research shows that 42% are either already looking or planning to find a new job in 2025, with the hunt for higher salaries the key driving force
- On average, candidates are only considering a role offering a 13% pay increase, whilst half (49%) say a good work/life balance is a top concern when salary and benefits are satisfactory
- Two thirds (66%) say that they would be open to moving location for a new job
As the new year approaches, more than one in ten workers (11%) are currently seeking a new job. This is a marked increase compared to the 8% reported by Totaljobs at the same time two years ago, highlighting a gradual return to the January jobs rush.
According to the latest research from Totaljobs, which surveyed 3,000 UK workers, this activity doesn’t just end in January, with almost a third (31%) expressing a desire to change jobs later in 2025.
Further to this, two thirds (66%) of Brits say they are open to moving to a new location for a new job. A fifth (21%) would consider moving elsewhere in the UK, whilst another fifth (23%) would move within Europe and similar numbers (22%) are considering moving further afield.
The research highlights a surprising rise in job mobility despite vacancies continuing to fall. According to Totaljobs, growing appetite for new jobs is being driven by an ongoing deterioration in employee satisfaction, with research from October finding that 25% of employee turnover in the last 12 months was related to stress, burnout or other mental-health related conditions.
Salary and stability remain crucial
The research found that 59% of Brits were concerned about their finances headed into next year, and as such seeking a higher salary was the most common driver behind looking for a new job.
On average, job seekers are only seriously considering roles offering a minimum 13% pay increase. Despite this, a pay increase in line with inflation is the most common reason encouraging those on job hunts to stay with their current employers (35%) indicating there is clear negotiation space for employers looking to retain talent.
While salaries remain the primary driver, a quarter (25%) have started their job search to find a better work/life balance, which is also the top concern when choosing a new job or employer (49%). This is followed by job security (37%) and flexible working options (37%), with two-thirds (66%) stating they would forgo a pay rise in favour of flexible working hours. This trend is increasing competition among employers to offer more creative compensation packages. Totaljobs is urging employers to consider their flexible working policies, as these are emerging as crucial differentiators for candidates.
Julius Probst, Labour Economist at Totaljobs (part of The Stepstone Group) said:
‘‘The UK labour market has returned to balance after two years of overheating in 2021 and 2022. Vacancies continue to decline, and employment growth remains sluggish. Worker turnover is currently low, and there are concerns that the policies introduced in the Autumn Budget may impact the hiring outlook. The Bank of England should continue its easing cycle to avoid further stifling the labour market. On the bright side, real wages of workers are growing at a healthy rate, supporting household consumption and the economy.‘’
Totaljobs’ research draws on 17.4 million job adverts from 23 industries in the UK, leveraging five years of salary data, as well as insights from a nationally representative survey of 3,000 UK workers.
