Apparently almost half of UK employees are looking to move on in 2010...

According to an article in Recruiter Magazine, nearly 50% of people in the UK are planning to change jobs next year. 42% will be actively seeking a new role, and 22% are already feeling more confident about their prospects in 2010. Whether these figures encompass the same jobseekers (e.g. do some of the active jobseekers also feel they have the mojo when it comes to finding a new role), is not clear - although I suspect that these figures must cross somewhere... it seems to follow that to seek a new role one must be feeling pretty confident about one's prospects, and that to feel confident about moving on would be a major reason for actually looking at new opportunities. Any statisticians out there might be able to make more sense of these figures, but from a recruiter's point of view, the most important point seems to be the percentage of people out there who are eager and willing to consider a change of job in the coming year.

As for industry figures, Recruiter reports that there are high levels of workers in both financial and banking services (63%) and sales, marketing and media (61%), who will be seriously considering a sideways, onwards or upwards move in 2010. As a consultancy who deal mainly with sales and marketing roles, this news is very positive for us, especially following what has been a rather candidate-dry last few quarters!

However, I shall be exercising a modicum of reserve before getting too excited. On the face of it, the figures are very encouraging, and would point to an upturn in recruitment opportunities for both clients and candidates as well as recruiters themselves. But - and it's a big but - figures can be misleading, especially in this industry. People are likely to say, when asked, that they would consider moving on, or are going to be actively seeking new roles. However, this doesn't always mean they are. If asked, of course most of us would agree that, should a really tempting opportunity present itself, then we would consider it. This doesn't mean that a) it will or b) we really will. How many candidates have we all spoken to who have posted their CV on every job board going, apply for every job that appeals for them, enthuse with us over the phone and assure us they are interested in interviewing for their dream role... only to withdraw prior to interview or even offer, because they don't really feel ready to move on, and were reacting to a bad week at work, or a row with their boss, rather than seriously job hunting? How many of those who claim to be feeling more positive about their prospects will actually be looking for new roles - as opposed to sitting on the fence waiting to see how things go in their current job, before tentatively having a look around for something that might be better? This will only be something that becomes clear when us recruiters start to speak to candidates, and get a proper feel for the real intentions and aspirations of the 42% of those who say they are ready to move on. Hopeful, it is - realistically translating into business and placements? Only time will tell.

Read the original article here: http://www.recruiter.co.uk/nearly-half-plan-to-move-jobs-in-2010/1003739.article

Rachel Lawrence