Over a quarter of UK workers are unhappy in their current job, according to the research commissioned by specialist training company Train4TradeSkills.

Only one in four have no plans to change their career in the next five years.

Career satisfaction is highest in the South West and the West Midlands, while workers in the South East and East Midlands, are less satisfied.

Other key findings include:

·      Bigger salaries don’t always equal increased career satisfaction.  For example, only 24% of those earning £25,000 - £29,999 are dissatisfied in their job, compared to 27% who earn between £35,000 and £49,999. 

·      46% of workers who are not self-employed want to be their own boss

·      Leisure and hospitality (27% saying they are ‘very satisfied’ in their job) is the most satisfying sector to work in. Retail (14%) is the least

·      The main reasons people don’t change their career are not being able to afford to take a pay cut (37%), not being able to afford to retrain (29%) and simply not knowing what they want to do instead (35%).

Mike Head of Train4TradeSkills, says: “There are many people working in Britain who are not satisfied in their current job and while pay is deemed important, it’s interesting to see that big salaries do not always equal career satisfaction.

“People are looking for flexible hours, being their own boss and doing work they enjoy and are keen to find a career that offers these benefits.”