Workers in Northern Ireland are experiencing the ‘Great Dissatisfaction’ as scope for career progression dips, according to new research by Hays.
Hays has warned that this widespread discontent will become the next ‘Great Resignation’ once the job market turns, as their research found that over half of workers in Northern Ireland intend to look for a new job over the next 12 months.
In a sluggish jobs market, workers are finding it increasingly difficult to advance their careers, both within and outside of their current roles. Nearly half of workers in Northern Ireland (45%) now report a lack of career progression opportunities within their organisations, a significant increase from the 32% of workers who said the same last year.
The research, based on a survey of over 10,600 responses from professionals and employers including 560 respondents in Northern Ireland, found that optimism about career prospects has also waned, with only 45% of workers feeling positive about their career outlook this year, down from 57% last year.
Hays, who have been tracking career optimism for over a decade, found that the only two years with worse career positivity across the UK were post-Brexit in 2016 (42%) and the first year of the pandemic (37%).
As many workers struggle to progress their careers within their current organisation, over half (52%) intend to look for a new job in the coming 12 months – with over a quarter (28%) intending to do so in the next six months.
Almost a third of workers (30%) say they have changed jobs in the last 12 months, and nearly half (42%) had considered it. Just over a quarter (28%) of workers didn’t move jobs or consider doing so. Among those who moved jobs last year, the primary reasons for doing so were a lack of career progression (32%) and the fear of leaving a secure position (23%).
Other factors preventing UK workers from changing jobs in the past year were a poor relationship with their manager (21%), followed by concerns about the cost of living (12%) and the current economic climate (12%).
John Moore, Managing Director of Hays, commented: “As our research warns, employers should be aware that we might see part two of the Great Resignation as soon as people feel more confident to change jobs. It’s apparent that a lot of professionals in Northern Ireland unfortunately see limited opportunities to progress their careers and inevitably feel disheartened as a result.
“Now is the time to confront this dissatisfaction in the workforce head on. Some of the ways employers can do this include prioritising transparent career mapping, providing continuous learning and upskilling opportunities, and fostering a culture of support through mentorship. Organisations will no doubt boost employee morale and enhance productivity and retention by investing time into their staff’s growth.
“For employees, it’s crucial to keep a close eye out for development opportunities and discuss career goals and ambitions with managers, welcome feedback, and in available training and mentorship initiatives. Employees can position themselves for career progression and new opportunities by proactively engaging in their own professional and personal growth.”
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