Regional findings

This page includes a Flash animated map which contains key regional findings by city of our research.

The findings are:

London

Transient, downbeat and overworked: London working life

Londoners are the most pessimistic about job security with 34% expecting their job to move overseas in the future. However, 64% are prepared to move with their job if required.
They are also the most willing to change direction, with 72% most likely to consider retraining for a new career.
Londoners struggle the most to achieve a work life balance with 49% finding it difficult to achieve a happy medium. They are also most likely to work from home (54%).

Edinburgh

Positive and committed – Scots look ahead with optimism

People from Edinburgh show the most optimism regarding job losses, with 71% feeling that their current job is not under threat from redundancy.
Scots are the most likely to relocate anywhere in the world in the future to keep their job, with 25% prepared to uproot from their current location.
51%, the most in all of the cities surveyed, feel that maternity leave should be increased.

Cardiff

Job fears hit Cardiff as staff fear redundancy and cost-cutting

People in Cardiff fear redundancy the most, with 38% anxious about their job security.
They are the least likely to have received training and only 22% say they are offered the training they require.
71%, the highest out of all the cities, fear employer cost cutting initiatives.
They are also sceptical that the working day will remain 9-5, with 40% expecting this to change in the future.

Manchester

Manchester workers best at retaining work / life balance
Mancunians excel at achieving a work life balance with the lowest number of respondents (36%) failing to maintain a happy work life medium.
21% of Mancunians worry about the changing shape of UK industry and their role within it.
44%, the highest in any city, believe there will be more job and career opportunities abroad in the future.

Bristol

Bristol workers report high level of confidence in their skills

They are happiest with their skill set, with 98% feeling that they have the necessary skills to do their job.
They are most likely to work from home with 35% of respondents doing so every day.
They are also the least likely to retrain to earn more money, with only 17% prepared to do this.

Brighton

Happy at home despite being out of pocket

Only 20% of respondents would move to another country for a job opportunity in the future, the lowest out of all the cities. 38% do not believe there will be career opportunities outside the UK.
The people of Brighton are most likely to have suffered financially with 39% experiencing a pay cut or pay freeze. They are also likely to work from home (51%).

Birmingham

Birmingham workers report confidence in skills – but low benefits

Confident that there is little chance of their jobs being outsourced in the future, 81% believe that their role will not move abroad.
People from Birmingham are the least likely to receive employer benefits with 57% receiving nothing at all.
This may influence their view on childcare benefits, as only 41% and 27% believe that paternity and maternity leave should be increased respectively, the lowest out of all the cities.

Leicester

Eager to learn in hardworking Leicester

People in Leicester feel the least confident that they have the skills to do their job.
They want training the most, with 64% of respondents keen to improve their skills.
Career change is not popular in Leicester with only 35% having retrained to change career.
Most respondents in Leicester (72%) are willing to work more hours in the future to receive better pay.

Ipswich

We lack training, say Ipswich workers

They are most optimistic that the working day will remain 9-5 in the future with 62% not expecting any change.
They are the most likely not to receive any training with 17.5% saying they receive no training at all.

Leeds

Money not on the agenda for Yorkshire workers

They are least likely to want more training in the future with 42% not wanting any training at all.
They are the most willing at 29% to work fewer hours and as a result, receive less pay. They are also the most pessimistic about their pay outlook, with 19% expecting a pay freeze over the next three years.

Newcastle

Commitment pays off for Newcastle workforce

They are the most likely to have received training with 75% respondents receiving training in the past year.
They are also the most content with their training with 47% happy with the level of training received. 51% have re-trained in order to change career.
The recession has had the least impact in Newcastle compared to other cities in relation to pay. They are least likely to have received a pay cut, experienced a pay freeze and most likely (74%) to expect a salary increase ever year.