More than half of workers across Scotland say they will be looking for new jobs in 2018, with well over 1 in 4 (29%) of workers in the region already actively job hunting, according to new research from Investors in People. The findings are highlighted in a new report “Job Exodus Trends 2018” which shows that over a third of employees in the region (36%) say they are unhappy in their jobs. This figure represents a fall of 3% on last year’s findings.

Disappointment over pay is the major driver of discontentment in Scotland, with this issue being flagged by 48% of respondents. Despite improvements in the labour market yielding an increase in the employment rate of 0.6% and the lowest unemployment rate since 1975, we have actually experienced a fall in average weekly earnings of 0.4% compared to this time last year.  

This year’s survey included a new set of questions aiming to get an overview of how Britain’s decision to leave the EU has influenced the way we think about job security and the place of our organisations in the economy. IIP’s results revealed that 30% of people in Scotland believe that Brexit will impact their job security.

Paul Devoy, Head of Investors in People said: “In a year where unemployment has reached its lowest level since 1975, but wages have stagnated, the improvements to the labour market have failed to translate to the pockets of UK’s workers. With research suggesting that employee disengagement costs the UK economy £340 billion annually[1], bad leadership is eroding UK productivity. With 48% of workers in Scotland citing poor pay as the main reason they’re considering looking for a new job next year, retention strategies must evolve to meet the demands of employees if organisations are to keep staff.”

Paul continued: “The fact that nearly half of employees are contemplating a new job in 2018 should be a wake- up call to employers that they can’t take their talent for granted. UK workers have spoken; people don’t leave jobs, they leave bosses.  Unless employers listen to and act upon the views of their employees, particularly around the effectiveness of management, the UK is going to continue to lag behind the G7 in terms of productivity ultimately making us all less prosperous. ”