Approximately 60 percent of all working adults
want a new career, but nearly 40 percent of these adults are unsure
what to pursue
A majority of U.S. working adults want to change careers, but
may be staying put because they are uncertain about what career
they want to pursue. A recent University of Phoenix® School of
Business national survey of working adults in the U.S. revealed
that 59 percent of working adults, and almost three-fourths (73
percent) of professionals in their 30s are interested in changing
careers. Compared to the University’s 2013 survey on the topic, the
percentage of 30-somethings who desire career change has increased
by nearly 10 percentage points (64 percent in 2013).
The same data indicates that professionals in their 20s are more
content in their careers now than they were two years ago, with
just 65 percent wanting to shift careers, down from 78 percent in
2013.
“Employees in their 30s are likely established in their careers,
but may be finding they are not growing as quickly as they had
hoped, or are not as satisfied as they imagined they would be in
their profession,” said Ruth Veloria, executive dean for University
of Phoenix School of Business. “A feeling of stagnation can prompt
workers to think about their professional development and whether
other careers might offer a clearer path to growth. At University
of Phoenix we have students of all ages exploring new interests;
some return to school to transition into a new profession, while
others are looking to grow specific skills to advance in current
careers.”
Despite professing the strongest interest in changing careers,
45 percent of 30-somethings desiring career change cited
uncertainty about what career they would like to pursue. They noted
this as the most significant barrier to making a change – the
highest of any age group. The recent online survey of more than
1,000 working adults in the U.S. was conducted on behalf of
University of Phoenix® School of Business by Harris Poll in March
2015.
Why do so many Americans want to change careers?
Half of those desiring a career change indicated they entered
their current career because there were jobs available (50
percent), but only 38 percent actually cited an interest in the
field. With overall earning potential likely the main motivation in
seeking a career, 34 percent of those at least somewhat interested
in a career change state they chose their current career because of
the good salary.
The most common reason for career change is that working adults
feel they are not making enough money in their current careers (44
percent). Working adults can also be discouraged by lack of
opportunity or excitement in their current fields, with other
issues cited, including burnout (29 percent) and a lack of upward
mobility in their current field (27 percent). However, people
making $75,000-100,000 a year and interested in changing careers
are also the most likely to have lost interest or passion in their
field (45 percent). They are also the most likely to feel burned
out (40 percent).
“With professionals less likely to feel locked into a specific
career path and the average person remaining in the workforce much
longer, it’s not surprising that working adults are branching out
and exploring many different professional opportunities,” said
Veloria. “With technology evolving and changing the way we do
business, and an ever-expanding job market, we anticipate that this
trend will only grow stronger.”
I want a change, but….
Despite strong interest from working adults to change careers,
an overwhelming 94 percent identify barriers that are preventing
them from doing so. Nearly half of those who are interested in
changing careers (43 percent) cite a lack of financial security and
39 percent have uncertainty about what other career to choose.
Thirty-six percent feel they lack adequate education or experience,
while 36 percent fear the unknown and 33 percent feel they are too
old or too advanced in their current position.
When asked if they could work in their “dream job” regardless of
the amount of education or training required, those not already in
their dream job identified careers in the arts and sciences (22
percent), business and management (18 percent) and technology (17
percent) as fields they aspire to work in.
“Higher education and skills training are now becoming life-long
endeavors, with professionals recognizing that regardless of the
industry in which you work, ongoing development is critical to keep
pace with technology and other advances,” added Veloria. “That’s
why at University of Phoenix, we work with industry partners to
identify relevant skills and professional development
opportunities, as well as other market needs, to help today’s
working adults navigate their careers in an ever-changing job
market.”
Tips for Career Change Success
Changing a career at any age can be daunting. Dean Veloria
offers the following tips for those who are looking for a new
direction in their professional lives:
- You don’t need to completely start
over. Research paths to your desired career and look for
opportunities to translate skills from one industry to another.
Certificate programs allow professionals to pursue education in
multiple subject areas to cultivate a diverse knowledge base, and
can also help individuals who have a strong foundation in one area,
such as accounting, to more quickly address knowledge gaps in a
specific industry, such as hospitality.
- You may already have a lot of the
skills you need. Understand how your current skills/experience
might translate to another industry. If you work in marketing, but
are interested in health care, consider starting in a marketing
position with a health care organization.
- Become more entrepreneurial in your
current career. Establish a peer or senior leader mentor
relationship with someone in your company or your field who you can
learn from, and who can help you grow and find new opportunities to
branch out in your current organization. Talk to as many people as
possible doing what you may want to do, to better understand the
opportunities, requirements and challenges.
For more information about University of Phoenix School of
Business degree programs, visit
http://www.phoenix.edu/business.
Survey Methodology
This year’s Working Adult survey was conducted online within the
U.S. by Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix from March
10-12, 2015, among 1,044 U.S. adults age 18 or older who are
full-time, part-time or self-employed. The 2013 survey was
conducted from April 18-26, 2013 among 1,616 U.S. adults age 18 or
older who were full-time, part-time or self-employed. For complete
survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact
Heather.McLaughlin@apollo.edu.
About University of Phoenix School of Business
University of Phoenix School of Business offers associate,
bachelor’s and master’s degree programs that prepare students to be
creative problem solvers for the new economy. The School of
Business also offers non-degree programs, including certificates,
individual courses and non-credit professional development.
Doctoral programs are available through the School for
Advanced Studies. To learn more about University of Phoenix School
of Business programs, visit www.phoenix.edu/business.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working
adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly
changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses,
and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue
career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives.
As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL),
University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering
associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs from
campuses and learning centers across the U.S., as well as online
throughout the world. For more information, visit
www.phoenix.edu.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150728005242/en/
University of PhoenixHeather McLaughlin,
714-338-6429heather.mclaughlin@apollo.edu
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