From wellbeing to working from home, there’s plenty of buzzwords when it comes to post-pandemic work trends. The past two years has seen a shift in the work mindsets for many, and businesses must adapt to the changing needs of their employees. But what are people looking for from their next role?
As we’ve recently passed the two-year anniversary of the covid-19 pandemic, analysis* Google search data and ONS data to reveal what people are looking for from their jobs in 2022.
Where are Brits working now?
Data from a recent ONS survey[1] released by the UK government has found that 71% of the population travelled into work in within the last month12% working from home full time and 14% working with a hybrid approach.
30–49-year-olds were more likely to work from home compared to 16–29-year-olds (13% vs 8%). This may be explained by younger people feeling safer to return to work but could also be attributed to the younger demographic living in city centres and in many cases renting, therefore being more inclined to return to the office. This is compared to the 30–49-year-olds category, who are much more likely to have families and children, therefore craving a better work-life balance, which is something that working from home can facilitate.
Tom Ryan, Sales Director at Futures, comments: “Everyone is different and offering a flexible, hybrid approach to working means businesses can support and attract a wider variety of people.
Having an office there for your team and making it a great place to be is of huge benefit to employees, especially for their mental health. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to this; it’s about providing the options for staff to work where they feel most comfortable, and productive.
Is hybrid working desired by job seekers?
Google search data[2] reveals a huge increase in those looking for “hybrid working jobs” with the term rising 30,900% from the start of the pandemic in 2020 to 2022 Hybrid working is defined as working some of the working week in the office, and some of it at home. This rise comes as employers and employees alike recognise the benefit of hybrid working, and it becomes both a valuable and viable option for many businesses.
Is salary still a key consideration?
Work life balance is also becoming more important for UK employees; however, salary is still a consideration for many, shown by a 2900% increase in searches for “highest paying jobs with work life balance”. This comes as the pandemic has made people address the balance between work and everyday life. However, with the cost of living rising rapidly, comfortable salaries are still desired.
Addressing mental health
Sadly, the pandemic saw a huge rise in Brits experiencing mental health issues.[3] Many UK workers are looking for accommodating roles and workplaces due to poor mental health, shown by a 1100% rise in searches for “best jobs for someone with anxiety and depression”. Employees are actively searching for jobs which will support mental health and offer comfortable working environments for different needs.
Tom Liptrot, Managing Director at Futures, comments: “Small things can make a big difference for employees in the workplace, and good mental health practices are important for a thriving team. To help, businesses can consider introducing employee wellbeing services, mental health staff training, and actively encourage employees to maintain a healthy work life balance.”
