New research* that 19% of people have changed careers since the start of the pandemic, backing up the much talked about Great Resignation. This is highest among 16-24 year olds (33%) followed by 25-34 year olds (28%) and 35-44 year olds (28%).
The research – which forms part of The Future of Learning 2022 Report – also shows what industries people have moved into, with the top three being Healthcare, IT & Telecoms, and Finance. However, of those who haven’t switched careers during the pandemic, self-employment is rated the second highest career path that people want to move into. This draw towards being your own boss is further backed up by the research with over two-fifths (41%) of respondents saying they would plan to start their own business or side hustle alongside their full time job.
Online learning is also top of mind for those planning to start their own business. When asked how you would consider gaining the skills to start your own business, ‘through online short courses’ is the highest answer (19%), above ‘doing my own self-guided study’ (16%) and ‘through in person short courses’ (16%).
With so many people on the move, the research looks at what employers are looking for when recruiting, what candidates thought would get them the job of their dreams and what candidates are looking for in their dream jobs.
When it comes to reviewing CVs, employers on the whole are looking for skills, where people have worked before, and what they say about themselves in their profile or short summary. When the research hones in on what educational qualifications employers are looking for, Microcredentials are cited as one of the top three educational qualifications employers look for on their ideal candidate’s CV (14%), alongside skills-based qualifications such as BTECs and T-Levels (26%) at number one and grades from school (22%) at number two.
Consumers are largely aligned with these expectations around the type of education they believe would land them the job they want, with one in five (20%) choosing Vocational courses and apprenticeships as the number one route, followed by skills-based qualifications (18%) and a combination of degree and short courses (17%).
Mike Zealley, Managing Director at KPMG Learning Services, comments: “You have to understand why the individual is learning. Is it to get promoted? Because they want a different role? That connects to what form of recognition and reward is appropriate.”
For candidates, it’s also interesting to note that critical thinking, strategic planning and creativity are the top 3 biggest skills gaps according to employers, who also say that a positive attitude, willingness to learn, and communication are the top skills or attributes that they think benefit their employees most in their careers.
For employers, it’s important to note that over three-quarters (76%) of consumers said that access to ongoing learning and development is important to them when choosing a new job and over a quarter (27%) of respondents expect their employer to pay for their ongoing, lifelong learning. Thankfully, almost half of all employers surveyed provided at least 5 hours of ongoing training per month, but this only equates to about one hour a week and 12% of businesses don’t offer ongoing learning and development opportunities at all.
Professor Romy Lawson, Deputy Vice Chancellor Students at Flinders University, said: “We have to prepare people for employability – that’s the key word. People used to talk about being ‘job ready’ but it’s not just one job any more. Students need the skills to navigate their careers; to be adaptive experts.”
Ian McIlwain, VP of Partnerships at FutureLearn, added: “Trends like the ‘great resignation’ and the movement towards multiple careers across one’s lifetime are only picking up momentum. That’s why it’s crucial that people have access to the right upskilling and reskilling resources to be able to make their next move with full confidence. At FutureLearn, our mission is to transform access to education, and we aim to do just this by supporting our growing community of over 18 million learners on their lifelong learning journeys with hundreds of career-boosting courses from some of the world’s leading education and industry partners.”
