As the UK workplace struggles with evolving demands, a new survey reveals concerning trends about employee wellbeing and job satisfaction. It paints a picture of increasing volatility in the labour market, with wellbeing under increasing strain.
The 2025 What Workers Want poll, conducted by Manchester-based people insight platform New Possible, found that 39% of employees are likely to seek a new role within the next 12 months, a sharp rise from 33% in 2024. Flexibility emerged as a critical factor: 59% of workers without flexible options intend to leave their roles, a notable increase from 50% the previous year.
Decline in Worker Wellbeing
The survey found that a total of 30% of workers reported a decline in their wellbeing over the past year, with certain sectors experiencing steeper drops:
- Transport and logistics: 45%
- IT and sales: 40%
- Retail: 35%
The growing dissatisfaction in the IT sector, which had the highest job satisfaction in 2024, highlights frustrations around pay and work-life balance.
Unhealthy workplace cultures were a recurring theme, often described as “greedy”, “challenging”, and “toxic”. These environments left many employees feeling undervalued, contributing significantly to poor wellbeing and turnover.
Why Employees Leave
When asked about their motivations for leaving, the top five reasons were:
- Poor leadership
- Unhealthy culture
- Colleagues
- Lack of resources (including staffing shortages)
- Pay dissatisfaction
Conversely, the top reasons employees stay include:
- Colleagues
- Flexibility
- Fulfilment
- Healthy culture
- Good benefits
Sector Trends and Job Satisfaction
Job satisfaction in the UK workforce remains steady at an average of 70%, but the survey revealed significant variations across different sectors:
- Engineering and Manufacturing: 75% satisfaction, 47% likely to leave
- Charity: 73% satisfaction, 46% likely to leave
- Business Management: 71% satisfaction, 39% likely to leave
- Law: 70% satisfaction, 19% likely to leave
- Creative Arts: 70% satisfaction, 48% likely to leave
- Public Services: 70% satisfaction, 35% likely to leave
- Banking and Finance: 70% satisfaction, 50% likely to leave
- Education: 70% satisfaction, 37% likely to leave
- Sales: 70% satisfaction, 35% likely to leave
- Hospitality: 70% satisfaction, 50% likely to leave
- Property and Construction: 69% satisfaction, 35% likely to leave
- Information Technology: 69% satisfaction, 40% likely to leave
- Healthcare: 68% satisfaction, 38% likely to leave
- Retail: 66% satisfaction, 55% likely to leave
- Transport and Logistics: 63% satisfaction, 52% likely to leave
While some sectors, such as law (19%), report a lower likelihood of turnover despite average satisfaction, others like retail (55%) and transport and logistics (52%) face higher volatility due to dissatisfaction with leadership, pay and unhealthy workplace cultures.
Rising Pay Expectations
Pay continues to be a contentious issue. Workers expect a 7% salary increase in 2025, down from 8% last year, but still above inflation. Concerns over job security are also growing, with 14% of respondents feeling at risk of redundancy, compared to 10% in 2024.
Nate Harwood, founder of New Possible, said the next 12 months would be challenging for employers. “2025 is shaping up to be a turbulent year for the job market, with employees increasingly seeking new opportunities and greater flexibility,” he said.
“At the same time, high pay expectations pose a challenge for employers already grappling with rising costs like National Insurance Contributions as they work to attract and retain talent.”