Member Article

Almost Half Of People Living In Sheffield Crave Post-Lockdown Career Change

A staggering 46% of people in Sheffield are considering a post-lockdown career overhaul, according to new research.

The nationwide survey of 2,000 British workers, carried out by The National Lottery, has revealed the extent to which 2020 has forced people to reconsider their lifestyles, with jobs and careers coming out as the number one change people now want to make.

A whopping 48% of those polled in Sheffield said lockdown had made them realise they do not like their jobs and 67% said they now realise life is too short to be in a job they do not like.

Top of the list of career changes people now want to make in Sheffield is training to become a gardener, (15%) or photographer, (15%); closely followed by becoming a nurse, (12%) or care worker, (12%) or a decorator/interior designer, (12%). And a total of 12% of people questioned said lockdown had made them realise they would now like to become a YouTube star!

The study also found that the biggest barriers to changing careers for people in Sheffield include lack of confidence (46%). A total of 48% of those questioned said their biggest worry was having the necessary funds.

A staggering 82% of people in Sheffield said 2020 had made them reconsider their lifestyle, with 55% pledging to become healthier and 37% saying they want to spend more time with loved ones. A total of 37% of people polled also said they would like to travel the world as soon as it is possible.

The survey findings are revealed as the country prepares for Friday’s EuroMillions draw, (28 August) a rollover with an estimated whooping £126M jackpot up for grabs.

And it would appear the importance of careers for people in Sheffield wouldn’t change even after a lottery win, with less than half (45%) saying they would quit their jobs if they win.

A total of 42% of people in Sheffield said they would learn a new trade if they won big; 24% would focus on charity work and 12% would study for their pilot’s licence.

Deana Sampson, from Sheffield, who scooped a £5.4M Lotto jackpot in 1996, said, “Winning the lottery has bought me time, time to do the things I love.

“Charity has always been close to my heart and my win has really enabled me to focus more on helping both those around me and charities which are close to my heart.

“During lockdown I took that one step further and started to train assistance dogs with Support Dogs UK in Sheffield. These dogs will go on to support people with a variety of needs and disabilities including autism and epilepsy.”

Commenting on the findings, Camelot’s Senior Winners’ Advisor, Andy Carter said, “2020 seems to have left many of us wanting more from our jobs, thinking about what our next career move might be or jacking it all in to do something that we really love.

“Our passion for gardening and cooking in lockdown and months of home schooling has clearly inspired the nation to consider a career overhaul and realise the importance of job satisfaction.

“And the importance of our careers doesn’t appear to change even after a lottery win, with only a few looking to quit their jobs if they win. Over half of National Lottery winners still work in some capacity and just under a quarter of them have started their own business after their win, turning their hand to floristry, hairdressing – we even have one that has invented their own spicy sauce!” . Top five new career ambitions for people in Sheffield are:

1. Gardener 15%
2. Photographer 15%
3. Nurse 12%
4. Care worker 12%
5. YouTube star 12%

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paula Sykes .