British workers ditch in their day jobs
A mass exodus of the British workforce is expected to take place this year as millions plan a career break.
According to research by Direct Line Travel Insurance, 1.75 million Britons intend to leave their desk jobs to go travelling in 2006.*
Almost a third (30 per cent) of those planning a trip overseas are so desperate to get away they are willing to take unpaid leave, with a fifth (19 per cent) not returning to their current job.
Many cite the fast pace of life today as the reason behind their desperation to get away. A quarter (24 per cent) of those planning a trip say they are ‘burnt-out’, 17 per cent are fed up with the ‘rat race’ in general and 14 per cent with their job.
This loss of manpower will hit the construction industry in particular with 13 per cent of over 25s in this sector planning to leave their jobs to go travelling. Also likely to be affected are the IT and telecoms industries (nine per cent), finance sector (eight per cent) and public sector employers (seven per cent).
Professionals in the North East are most likely to be planning to take a break (10 per cent), followed by the Wales and the West (eight per cent), London and Yorkshire (both seven per cent).
Those planning a trip overseas are following in well-trodden footsteps – 827,999 Britons have taken an overseas sabbatical in the last year alone.**
The Direct Line Travel Insurance findings reveal the most popular destination for a career break is Australasia, followed by Western Europe and the USA.
Top 10 Destinations for people who have taken career breaks include:
1. Australasia – 30%
2. Western Europe – 22%
3. USA – 22%
4. South East Asia – 21%
5. South Asia – 13%
6. Eastern Europe – 10%
7. East Asia – 6%
7. Southern Africa – 6%
9. Caribbean – 4%
10. Other African destinations – 4%
Chris Price, Business Manager at Direct Line Travel Insurance comments:
”Our research shows that 73 per cent of workers who have taken a sabbatical are over 35 years old so it would seem that people are taking career breaks later on in life. Recognising this and wanting to hold on to valued members of staff, lots of companies include sabbaticals as part of the job package they offer to new recruits.
This trend is reflected in the increase in Discoverer travel insurance packages we now sell, which are designed for people going away for longer periods or on more adventurous trips.”
For more information, log on to www.directline.com.
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Carmel McCarthy/Direct Line Press Office
0208 256 2178
Email: Carmel.McCarthy@Directline.com
Notes to Editors:
Research was carried out online by YouGov Plc who interviewed a representative sample of 2,131 GB adults between 28 February and 2 March 2006. Results are weighted to be representative of the GB adult population. YouGov is a member of the British Polling Council.
* The GB population aged 25 years old or more is 39,428,501 (ONS and General Registry Office for Scotland). Seventy-four per cent of those polled were in work, of whom six per cent were planning to take a sabbatical in the next 12 months (YouGov). Therefore: 0.74 x 39,428,501 x 0.06 = 1,750,625 people
** The GB population aged 25 years old or more is 39,428,501 (ONS and General Registry Office for Scotland), of whom 10 per cent have taken a sabbatical from work during their working lives (YouGov). Twenty-one per cent of these people have done in the last year. Therefore: 0.1 x 39,428,501 x 0.21 = 827,999 people
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