Workers Worldwide Itching for a Career Change

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It turns out that a majority of workers believe that the grass really is greener somewhere else.  That’s the finding of a new poll, which found that 55 percent of global workers were considering a career change because of the current economic situation. An additional 30 percent of respondents said they would consider a change if they could find a better career. 

In the United States, 56 percent of workers were trying to change careers, while in the United Kingdom, 62 percent of workers responded that they were actively trying to switch their career. Slightly more than half of workers in Mexico were also looking for a change.

"There are many types of career changes, with some people making a career 'sidestep,' moving into a new kind of role within their current industry, while others may be making a more radical change," Charles Purdy, Monster.com career expert, said. "Before considering a change, workers need to do thorough research, making sure they have realistic expectations and a concrete plan for filling their skills gaps."

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Despite the overwhelming majority of workers looking for a change, 15 percent of global workers still feel that their career is not affected by economic uncertainty. Even though many workers are currently looking to make a change, Purdy thinks workers should always be focused on a career change, regardless of economic standing.   

"People considering a career change should also reach out to their networks and consider conducting informational interviews," Purdy said.  "All of us should be actively managing our careers and making sure we’re on top of developments in our chosen industry. At the same time, employers can work to retain employees by offering incentives such as training and skills development."

The information in the Monster Global Poll was based on responses of Monster.com visitors. The poll was conducted over two weeks in February.

This story was provided by BusinessNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience. Reach BusinessNewsDaily staff writer David Mielach at Dmielach@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @D_M89.