New research reveals that Britain’s workforce are increasingly concerned with Brexit’s potential impact on their employment.
The data shows that with just one month to go, more than a third (34 per cent) of UK residents believe that Brexit would affect their current employment in a negative way, an increase of nearly four per cent when compared to survey results from 2018. Only a negligible three per cent of respondents think that Brexit will positively affect their current employment.
Drilling down into the data also reveals some interesting gender, age and professional nuances: Since February 2018, twelve times as many men than women have become more concerned about the impact on Brexit on their current employment: In February 2019 the number of men who believe Brexit will affect their employment negatively increased by almost eight per cent compared to a less than one per cent rise amongst women.
Interestingly, whilst some direct employees have become a little more positive regarding Brexit’s effect on their employment, contactors and those who are self-employed feel much more negative about it this year than back in 2018. When asked ‘How do you think Brexit will affect your current employment?’ the results captured just last month showed an increase of more than 50 per cent amongst contractors expecting a negative impact than in 2018, and a 33 per cent increase in those who are self-employed expecting a negative impact.
Finally, when split by age, the over 50s remain the largest group in employment who expect no change at all post Brexit – almost 30 per cent – although this has reduced from 35 per cent in 2018. All age groups of employees have seen an increase in expecting Brexit to have a negative impact on their current employment. Those aged 18-29 are leading this with a 22 per cent increase, seven per cent more 30-49-year olds and 18 per cent more over 50s in 2019, all believe that Brexit will bring negative outcomes for their current employment.
Deborah Frost, CEO at Personal Group, commented:
The results of our research clearly show that the current political environment has created an added level of uncertainty amongst UK workers around their employment prospects. Employers want to retain the confidence and enthusiasm of their employees. Offering recognition and being able to communicate directly with employees, wherever they are based, is key in building motivation and engagement, and emerging from this tricky period with the employee team’s morale intact
Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!
Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.
Aphrodite is also a professional painter.
In some circumstances an increase in anxiety, or even mild panic, just goes to show that you have genuine appreciation of the true gravity of the situation you are in.
In contrast, Pollyanna simply charged down that valley on her horse with those other guys, and look how that ended.