Britain's engineers are on the move in 2016
04/01/2016 Investors in People Head Office
* 49% are looking to move jobs in 2016 as the economy improves* 1 in 4 of those working in engineering and manufacturing are unhappy in their current jobs
* Clearer progression options and being told 'thank you' would help
NEARLY half of the those working in the engineering and manufacturing sectors will be looking for new jobs in 2016, with one in 5 (19%) already actively job hunting, according to new research from Investors in People.
The findings are highlighted in a new report "Job Exodus Trends 2016" which shows that one in 5 workers in the engineering and manufacturing sectors are complaining the lack of career progression (21%), a similar number (22%) say they don't feel valued as a member of staff and nearly a quarter are unhappy with their levels of pay (23%), prompting a potential mass exodus.
But getting a payrise would not solve the problem of being badly managed or feeling undervalued. Pay is important to employees but it's clear that it's not the only answer.
The survey asked respondents to choose between two scenarios - a 3% payrise, in line with recent UK increases, or a different non-remuneration benefit:
- Over a third (36%) said they would prefer a more flexible approach to working hours than a 3% payrise
- nearly a third (32%) said they would rather have a clear career progression route
- a similar number (29%) would rather their employer invested in their training and development more
Paul Devoy, Head of Investors in People said: "Improved salaries over recent months means that pay is less of a gripe for UK workers. But longstanding issues around poor management and how valued people feel in their work continue to make UK workers miserable. We know that bad leadership alone costs the UK £39 billion a year*. If employers addressed these factors, they would have a more committed workforce and far fewer resources tied up in constant recruitment drives.
"As the economy improves, many employers run the risk of losing their valuable, skilled staff."
A quarter of employees (25%) in the manufacturing and engineering sectors say they are quite or extremely unhappy in their jobs.
Simple actions can make all the difference. When asked what one thing their employer could do to increase their happiness in their current role, one in 11 (9%) just wanted to be told 'thank you' more and 1 in 9 (11%) simply wanted more clarity on what their career progression options are.
Paul continued: "Small things can make a big difference. Feeling valued, understanding their role in the organisation and how they can grow with an organisation are all big concerns for UK workers. Saying thank you, involving employees in decisions and giving them responsibility over their work are basic ways to make staff happier, and more likely to stay. Employers also win, with a more committed workforce, higher retention and a clearer view of the future."
For more information, please visit: www.investorsinpeople.com/jobexodus2016
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