Three-quarters of 25-54-year-olds long to change careers

As many as 75% of Brits aged 25-54 are eager to change careers but are put off by the amount of time and costs associated with retraining.

With last week being used to nationally celebrate and highlight the positives of apprenticeships, the ATT believe that an apprenticeship is a perfect solution for those wanting to start a whole new career.

Of the 2,000 people surveyed, 27% of 25-54-year-olds are actively considering a career change, 28% have considered it in the past two years, and 18% plan to start thinking about it within the next five years.

The top reasons for starting a new career include:

• An opportunity to earn more money (67%)
• To work in a more interesting sector (39%)
• To experience a new challenge (38%)
• To improve their opportunities for career progression (30%)

Interestingly, despite the fact that there is no upper age limit to apply for an apprenticeship, those aged 25 and over are 24% less likely to become an apprentice than those aged 16-24 (ONS data).

More than half (51%) said that apprenticeships don’t pay enough, but 17% admitted that they don’t know how much apprentices are paid, and 28% mistakenly believed that all apprentices are paid £4.30 an hour.

In fact, apprentices’ salaries are actually at the discretion of their employer with many paid at least the minimum wage for their age and many being paid more than this.

Anthony Clarke, Business Development Manager, AAT, said, “It’s easy to feel stuck in a rut after many years in the same career, whether that’s because opportunities for progression have dried up, or because interests or life circumstances have changed. However, the thought of starting from scratch can be daunting, with many people clearly worried about the feasibility of taking time out to retrain.

“Apprenticeships offer the perfect solution for those who find themselves in this position, enabling people to earn money whilst they learn and gain new skills. Far from only being available for manual jobs, apprenticeships can help people start new careers in everything from finance and law to technology or agriculture.

“I would urge anyone feeling unfulfilled in their current career path, or who is looking to get back into the workplace after some time away, to put aside their preconceptions and explore the potential opportunities offered by apprenticeships.”

To find out more about contracting please contact Jessica on 01206 591 000 or email jessica.attwood@contractorumbrella.com.