Worried Workers - NESTA Poll
Recruitment consultants and estate agents are the professions fearing for their jobs the most in the shaky economic climate, new research has revealed.
The once-thriving careers have been hit the hardest by the credit crunch as businesses put recruitment on hold and the numbers of house sales plummet.
More than two thirds of people in the job sector feel insecure in their employment, and 56 per cent fear redundancy is on the horizon.
Placing people in jobs has become harder than ever as companies across Britain are either laying people off or putting a freeze on recruitment.
Similarly, 65 per cent of those in the housing industry are worried because estate agents across Britain are struggling to sell houses - only one house is being sold each day and house prices have fallen to 15 per cent lower than 12 months ago.
The poll of 2,000 workers, conducted by NESTA, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts www.nesta.org.uk comes at a time when unemployment figures to be announced today (Weds) are expected to reach 2 million.
It was revealed that Call Centre staff are worried about keeping their jobs as companies resort to employing staff abroad to save money.
A third of telecommunications people claim their company put a freeze on pay rises months ago, and everyday they turn up to work fearing the worst.
A whopping 61 per cent of finance sector workers are worried about their future as banks struggle to stay afloat, and the Government is being forced to rescue them from collapse.
And even British engineers are feeling vulnerable - with 59 per cent worrying about the future of their careers.
Jonathan Kestenbaum, NESTA's Chief Executive commented: "With unemployment approaching two million, people suffering in the hardest hit sectors should use this opportunity to re-train and apply their expertise to areas of the economy where the UK has a strong competitive advantage such as in our creative sectors. Doing so will be critical in helping people get back on the payroll".
Other professions most worried about the current economic climate include Catering (57 per cent), Accountants (56 per cent), Sales staff (55 per cent), Advertisers (54 per cent) and Lawyers (52 per cent).
The poll revealed that 26 per cent of British workers have experienced job cuts and redundancies in their company over the past three months.
Four in 10 people admit they are working harder than ever before to keep their jobs; a third of these are working longer hours in a bid to look keen, and 20 per cent are taking work home.
One in five companies across the UK have put a freeze on pay rises, and the same number have ditched bonus schemes.
Nineteen per cent of workers believe their employer is struggling to make ends meet at the moment, but 31 per cent say their boss is being tight lipped about the financial state of the company.
In contrast, 39 per cent of folk say their boss has been putting the pressure on them to perform well at work.
MOST WORRIED PROFESSIONS
1. Recruitment consultants (67 per cent)
2. Estate Agents (65 per cent)
3. Call centre staff (64 per cent)
4. Bankers / Finance workers (61 per cent)
5. Engineers (59 per cent)
6. Caterers / Cooks (57 per cent)
7. Accountants (56 per cent)
8. Sales staff (55 per cent)
9. Marketers / Advertisers (54 per cent)
10. Lawyers (52 per cent)
The once-thriving careers have been hit the hardest by the credit crunch as businesses put recruitment on hold and the numbers of house sales plummet.
More than two thirds of people in the job sector feel insecure in their employment, and 56 per cent fear redundancy is on the horizon.
Placing people in jobs has become harder than ever as companies across Britain are either laying people off or putting a freeze on recruitment.
Similarly, 65 per cent of those in the housing industry are worried because estate agents across Britain are struggling to sell houses - only one house is being sold each day and house prices have fallen to 15 per cent lower than 12 months ago.
The poll of 2,000 workers, conducted by NESTA, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts www.nesta.org.uk comes at a time when unemployment figures to be announced today (Weds) are expected to reach 2 million.
It was revealed that Call Centre staff are worried about keeping their jobs as companies resort to employing staff abroad to save money.
A third of telecommunications people claim their company put a freeze on pay rises months ago, and everyday they turn up to work fearing the worst.
A whopping 61 per cent of finance sector workers are worried about their future as banks struggle to stay afloat, and the Government is being forced to rescue them from collapse.
And even British engineers are feeling vulnerable - with 59 per cent worrying about the future of their careers.
Jonathan Kestenbaum, NESTA's Chief Executive commented: "With unemployment approaching two million, people suffering in the hardest hit sectors should use this opportunity to re-train and apply their expertise to areas of the economy where the UK has a strong competitive advantage such as in our creative sectors. Doing so will be critical in helping people get back on the payroll".
Other professions most worried about the current economic climate include Catering (57 per cent), Accountants (56 per cent), Sales staff (55 per cent), Advertisers (54 per cent) and Lawyers (52 per cent).
The poll revealed that 26 per cent of British workers have experienced job cuts and redundancies in their company over the past three months.
Four in 10 people admit they are working harder than ever before to keep their jobs; a third of these are working longer hours in a bid to look keen, and 20 per cent are taking work home.
One in five companies across the UK have put a freeze on pay rises, and the same number have ditched bonus schemes.
Nineteen per cent of workers believe their employer is struggling to make ends meet at the moment, but 31 per cent say their boss is being tight lipped about the financial state of the company.
In contrast, 39 per cent of folk say their boss has been putting the pressure on them to perform well at work.
MOST WORRIED PROFESSIONS
1. Recruitment consultants (67 per cent)
2. Estate Agents (65 per cent)
3. Call centre staff (64 per cent)
4. Bankers / Finance workers (61 per cent)
5. Engineers (59 per cent)
6. Caterers / Cooks (57 per cent)
7. Accountants (56 per cent)
8. Sales staff (55 per cent)
9. Marketers / Advertisers (54 per cent)
10. Lawyers (52 per cent)
Your Opinions and Comments
These times are incredibly worrying for everyone. I'm a co-owner of a small business and we have staff who work incredibly diligently - yet I can't reassure any of them about the security of their jobs, or even my own. We have had most major projects 'put on ice' by blue-chip clients who are themselves about to 'rationalise' their workforces. I can tell you that not many of them have been having it 'cushy' - we have editors who'll put in a 24 hour day to meet a deadline but the commercial world is brutal these days.
This recession seems to have no 'slope' of downturn like the previous one...it's more like a sheer drop from a cliff face. That will affect all of us.
My thoughts and sympathise are with anyone worrying during this very stressful time...