More than half of UK workers plan to quit their job before the end of 2026
Key Points
- 53% of UK professionals plan to look for a new role before the end of the year
- 35% intend to start searching and 18% are already actively looking
- Work-life balance (38%), career progression (35%) and benefits (34%) top the list of reasons
- 29% say they feel underpaid and 28% want more remote working
- 92% rate job security as extremely or very important in career decisions
More than half of UK professionals plan to look for a new job before the end of the year, according to new research from talent solutions firm Robert Half.
The survey of 1,000 UK workers found that 35% intend to begin a job search, while a further 18% are already actively looking for a new role.
Better work-life balance or a more manageable workload is the most common motivation, cited by 38% of those considering a move.
Robert Half found several other reasons pushing workers towards the exit:
- Limited opportunities for career advancement (35%)
- Better benefits and perks (34%)
- Feeling underpaid in the current role (29%)
- Greater access to remote working (28%)
- Concerns about job security (22%)
“The labour market remains active, but professionals are becoming increasingly selective about the opportunities they pursue,” said Matt Weston, Senior Managing Director, UK & Ireland at Robert Half.
Weston said that pay still matters, but workers now weigh career progression, flexibility, wellbeing and long-term security more heavily when they consider a move.
Job security remains front of mind
Job security is extremely important to 53% of workers when they evaluate career decisions, and a further 39% describe it as very important.
That takes the combined figure to 92% of the UK workers surveyed, even as half the workforce weighs up a move.
Among those with no plans to leave, 49% say they feel fulfilled in their current job, and the same proportion point to workplace flexibility as the reason they are staying put.
“Workers want opportunities to develop and progress, but they are also cautious about making the wrong move,” Weston said.
He added that employers offering clear career pathways, flexibility, competitive benefits and a sense of stability will be best placed to hold onto staff over the coming months.
An independent research firm ran the survey for Robert Half in June 2026, covering 1,000 UK workers across a range of sectors, organisation sizes and age groups.
