After the Summer Switch off, September could be seeing many employees wanting to change jobs after the holidays finding it tougher than they thought. With many returning to the office needing to embrace a ‘Back to School’ mentality instead.
Research showed that:
- A third of UK employees were job hunting this year
- With 36.7% saying they thought it would be easy to find another position
Yet with recent ONS data suggesting the market was cooling with 5.8% less vacancies from May to July. Restless employees anticipating the traditional ‘September Surge’ of new roles might well be disappointed. Needing to gain market value and upskill where they are instead.
The need to ‘Go Back to School’ was reinforced by the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report which highlighted that over half of all employees would require significant reskilling. With 60% of organisations actively transforming their HR approach as a result.
Laura Miller UK People Country Leader at SD Worx said: ‘September is traditionally a time where people enjoy a break and reflect on their work life from their sunbeds or gardens. Yet, rather than changing jobs, many should see how upskilling and re-skilling present enormous career potential too. Meanwhile as demand for personalised and purposeful career journeys rises, employers getting upskilling right can not only strengthen their hand but boost employee engagement and set a new tone for company culture throughout the year. Including for those ambitious high performers wanting a new challenge.’
She added ‘In a world increasingly shaped by digital tools and AI, employers must show new levels of agility. This means building trust, providing access to cutting-edge technologies, and creating environments where talented individuals can focus on high-value activities and thrive’.
*SD Worx
The survey was conducted in February 2025 across 16 European countries: Belgium, Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom by the SD Worx Research Institute. A total of 5,625 employers and 16,000 employees were surveyed. The results offer a representative picture of the labor market in each country.
