The Monster Meter Says:

UK workers hungry for a new challenge
According to the latest Monster Meter, the top reason why UK jobseekers switch jobs is to discover fresh challenges. Second on the list comes better pay, followed by improved work/life balance and finally, relocation.

The Monster Meter asked, Why would you consider changing your job?
1,911 votes were cast on Monster.co.uk site between 9th and 23rd December 2002, revealing:

35% (660 votes) said: I need a new challenge.
29% (549 votes) said: I deserve to get paid more.
25% (485 votes) said: I need a better work/life balance.
11% (217 votes) said: I would like to re-locate.

Joe Slavin, Managing Director, Monster.co.uk comments, We are renowned for our workaholic culture in the UK with long days and high stress levels, but what this survey shows is that people aren't necessarily crying out for a better work/life balance. Job seekers are keen for new challenges to keep them motivated and interested in their jobs.

At Monster, we advise candidates to pursue career opportunities that will challenge, excite and allow them to fulfill their full potential.
The UK results form part of a European-wide poll carried out among 15,611 site visitors across 11 of Monster's local sites in Europe.

41% (6,424 votes) said: I need a new challenge.
26% (4,064 votes) said: I need a better work/life balance.
25% (3,819 votes) said: I deserve to get paid more.
8% (1,304 votes) said: I would like to re-locate.
Interestingly, although 35% of UK jobseekers want to change jobs for a fresh challenge, the European average is slightly higher with 41% of jobseekers choosing this option. In Denmark and Norway, this rose to 50%.

When it comes to salary considerations, UK jobseekers are in line with their European counterparts but for the Irish, better pay was a key driver in changing jobs.

Unsurprisingly, Spaniards - well-known for their siestas - are motivated most by work/life balance. Re-location was the least popular choice in the survey but UK figures were second highest for this category perhaps revealing the grass is always greener mentality of the British.

The results of the current Monster Meter are based on votes cast by Monster users in Europe from 9th to 23rd December. Only one vote per user is counted toward the final tabulation. The Monster Meter, a product of Monster.com, the leading global online careers site and flagship brand of TMP Worldwide Inc. (NASDAQ: TMPW), is a series of online polls that gauge users' opinions on a variety of topics relating to careers, the economy and the workplace. Anyone interested in voting in Monster's current online poll may do so by logging onto Monster.com at www.monster.com and selecting your local site.