Britain’s most loyal workers aren’t who you’d expect – these are the jobs people stick in for longest
Britain’s most “loyal” workers, those least likely to switch occupations, aren’t in high-flying tech roles or corporate boardrooms. Instead, the professions with the lowest turnover include beauty and wellness specialists, nurses, and electrical engineers.
New data from Indeed’s Hiring Lab shows around 2.4% of Indeed users in the UK changed jobs each month between 2022 and mid-2025 – roughly one in 42 workers. Of those switches, 63% involved moving into an entirely different occupation.
But the rates vary dramatically by field. Entry-level and often lower-paid roles see the highest mobility, while certain specialised or high-barrier professions show remarkable stability.
he occupations where workers are most likely to stay put include:
- Beauty & wellness – 1.6% monthly job-switching rate
- Nursing – 1.7%
- Electrical engineering – 1.8%
Other fields highlighted for low occupational exit rates include dental professionals (the lowest overall, with just 37% of job switchers leaving the field entirely), software development, personal care and home health, and driving roles.
Why these workers stay
The report points to a common thread among many of these stable professions: high barriers to entry.
“A common, though not universal, factor among these loyal professions is a high barrier to entry,” Indeed said.. “Workers often invest significant time in gaining experience, education, qualifications and training.
This long-term commitment may reflect passion for the work, the sacrifices made to reach their current position, or a reluctance to ‘waste’ that investment by leaving the profession.”
Nurses, dentists, and tech workers “may move between employers to seek better conditions or opportunities, but they seldom leave their profession entirely,” the report adds.
By comparison, high-turnover occupations tend to be more accessible, lower-paid, and entry-level – attracting younger workers who treat them as stepping stones.
The highest-turnover jobs
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the roles with the highest monthly switching rates were:
- Loading & stocking – 3.2%
- Food preparation & service – 3.2%
- Hospitality & tourism – 2.9%
- Data & analytics – 2.9%
These sectors often involve temporary, seasonal, or junior positions, contributing to greater workforce churn.
The findings come amid a cooling UK labour market in early 2026, with job postings trending lower and employers remaining cautious.
While Indeed data skews toward active job seekers, the occupational patterns offer valuable insight into where talent pools are most, and least, sticky.
The Office for National Statistics reported around 2.9 million people changed jobs in 2025, with 1.2 million switching career paths entirely.
In fields with high entry barriers and specialisation, from healthcare to skilled trades, retention may come more naturally. In more fluid sectors, strategies to improve pay, conditions, and career progression could help stem the tide of departures.
