Nine in ten people looking for a new job in 2021 as thousands pick up extra skills

Nearly nine in ten people are looking for a new job in 2021, according to a poll of thousands of workers.

The survey by jobs website Totaljobs found that 89 per cent of people are currently looking for a job. Picture: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

The survey by jobs website Totaljobs found that 89 per cent of people are currently looking for a job.

Alongside the unemployed, 84 per cent of those currently in employment say they are applying for new roles as well.

Over three quarters (77 per cent) of respondents started looking for a role in December and a further one in ten (11 per cent) have said they will start looking this month.

The survey of more than 5,000 UK workers found that more than a third (36 per cent) are looking for a fresh start and 10 per cent of respondents want a change of location. Of those, over half (52 per cent) are looking to relocate within the UK.

Some job searchers are looking further afield, with 24 per cent looking within the EU as a possible reaction to Brexit, and 14 per cent looking outside Europe altogether.

The survey also looked at developing skills during lockdown and found that despite the pandemic’s impact on businesses across the UK, one in ten workers still received training over the past year.

On top of this, nearly a third (30 per cent) of respondents have used their time during the pandemic productively to further their development by picking up a new skill or a qualification.

People have also used their time to help others, with 14 per cent having done volunteering, charity or community work over the past year.

Jon Wilson, chief executive of Totaljobs, said: “2020 was a tough year for the jobs market, and while we’ve seen increased activity on Totaljobs from businesses actively recruiting, for those looking for work, the challenge of having to stand out from the crowd remains.

“That’s why it’s such a positive sign that we’re seeing so many people picking up extra skills and qualifications during lockdown. This shows a willingness to keep their progression on track or learn new, transferable skills required to be employable in a different industry.

“Over the past year, we’ve seen workers setting new standards for their employment conditions. The rise of remote working has seen candidates move around the country or even relocate outside the UK to find work.

“The coming months will reveal how much more of an impact the pandemic and Brexit will have on people’s attitudes towards their jobs, their location and their employment terms.

“While the full impact of the pandemic will remain unclear for the time being, what we do know is that workers have experienced a huge strain on their working lives during 2020. It is perhaps no surprise that they will be seeking a fresh start and new opportunities in the months to come.”

The majority of people (57 per cent) think it will take them up to three months to find a new job and over a quarter (26 per cent) feel it is likely they will become unemployed in 2021.

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