A survey by international schools group ACS found that 9 per cent of respondents expect to hand in their notice in January, while nearly a quarter said their job was actively making them unhappy. Among those planning to leave, more than a third said they intended to resign at the start of the working week.
The findings are likely to intensify debate over the UK’s long-standing productivity problem and a labour market that remains challenging despite low unemployment. The government has pledged to improve economic output, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves committing in the autumn budget to prioritise productivity growth. However, the Office for Budget Responsibility has since downgraded growth forecasts, pointing to weaker expectations around productivity gains.
Research has consistently shown that UK workers rank among the least satisfied in Europe. Analysts point to a combination of high living costs, job insecurity and changing workplace dynamics as contributing factors. The rise of hybrid and remote working, while offering flexibility, has also been linked to increased loneliness, particularly among younger workers.
The ACS survey suggests many workers are actively considering major career changes. Around 16 per cent said they plan to return to higher or further education, while 8 per cent intend to ask their employer for a sabbatical. More than a quarter said they hope to start their own business at some point this year, and almost a quarter want to retrain in a different field. Overall, 41 per cent expect to significantly overhaul their career by 2026.
Martin Hall, head of school at ACS Hillingdon, said dissatisfaction with work often has its roots in early education choices. He criticised the UK exam system for pushing students to specialise too early.
“The research shows many workers feel short-changed by the paths they were guided into,” he said. “There is also concern among younger people that the same system will restrict their options in the future.”
The survey, which covered 3,527 people across the UK, included more than 2,500 working adults and young people aged 16 to 21, as well as around 1,000 parents of children in school, college or university.
Two-thirds of parents said the exam system forces children to narrow their subject choices too soon, limiting both study and career options. Among working adults, one in five reported feeling resentful about being pushed into a particular career path, while around one in six said they felt depressed about where they had ended up professionally.
Many respondents were also critical of the careers guidance they received while in education. More than 60 per cent of working adults said the advice they were given was unhelpful, with ACS suggesting that schools often discouraged exploration rather than supporting it.
The findings come at a time when younger workers are placing greater emphasis on fulfilment at work. More than two-thirds of young people surveyed said job enjoyment mattered more to them than pay, job security or career progression, a shift that could reshape how employers attract and retain talent in the years ahead.
