2.7 million workers to set up their own business
According to a study recently published by Aviva, two thirds of UK workers plan to make changes to their careers in the next 12 months. This number indicates that 22 million workers are seeking some kind of change to their careers.
The intended changes range from reducing hours, to moving roles within an organisation, to choosing a different career path completely.
The number of people planning to set up their own business is now around 2.7 million* workers (8% of workers) while the proportion planning to get a similar role in a different company has risen from 5% to 8% over the same period.
The proportion of workers planning to reskill now stands at 11%. However, this figure increases to 15% among those aged 35 to 44, suggesting people are taking stock of their careers; with 9% of workers wanting to take a different career path.
| Planned career change over the next 12 months | Percentage of workers July 2020 | Percentage of workers February 2021 | Percentage of workers October 2021 |
| I plan to find a role which will allow me to work from home | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| I plan to retrain / learn new skills | 9% | 10% | 11% |
| I plan to gain more academic qualifications | 8% | 8% | 9% |
| I plan to follow a completely different career path | 7% | 9% | 9% |
| I plan to find a role which helps others / makes a difference to those in need | 6% | 8% | 8% |
| I plan to set up my own business / work for myself | 6% | 7% | 8% |
| I plan to increase my working hours (e.g. part time to full time) | 6% | 7% | 8% |
| I plan to reduce my working hours (e.g. full time to part time) | 6% | 7% | 9% |
| I plan to move companies but stay in the same industry/role | 5% | 6% | 8% |
| I plan to find employment after losing my job | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| I plan to retire | 4% | 6% | 7% |
| I plan to find a new role but with the same organisation | 4% | 6% | 7% |
Nicki Charles, Retail MD, Customer, Aviva General Insurance says: “Benefits that were once seen as luxuries are now being viewed as essentials. While the pandemic has been devastating in so many ways, people are seeking out silver linings and a more progressive approach towards working is just one of these outcomes.”
