Single women aged between 34 and 44 and living in the West Midlands are most likely to feel unfulfilled in the workplace, according to research by ethical volunteering organisation Global Vision International (GVI).

The research reveals that 15% of British workers feel unfulfilled at work. When asked what would make them more fulfilled, 43% of respondents said they would like the opportunity to help people less fortunate than themselves, while 17% said that volunteering to help save the planet would increase their feeling of fulfilment. Money also ranked highly, with 54% of people surveyed feeling that earning more money would increase their fulfilment, while 30% think that more responsibility in the workplace will make them happier.

GVI director Andy Woods-Ballard says: "While it is worrying that so many people find their jobs unfulfilling, it is encouraging that people are developing a green conscience and wanting to volunteer to make a difference. It’s interesting that those in the 34 to 44 age group were the most likely to feel unfulfilled at work as this is the age group that we are seeing the biggest rise in volunteers year-on-year."

The research found that the trend for taking sabbaticals has doubled. In 2007, 23% of people have either considered or actually taken sabbaticals, compared with only 12% of the people surveyed by GVI in 2006.