VICTORIA – A new survey sponsored by Royal Roads University reveals almost half of all employed Canadians anticipate making a career change within the next five years, but many feel their existing skill set leaves them ill-prepared for it.
RRU’s Career Confidence Survey – a national poll of more than 1,000 employed Canadians (conducted by Ipsos) – found 45 per cent expect to make a job or career change in the next five years. A similar number (44 per cent) of Millennials expect it to happen within the next 12 months.
But with that change on the horizon, almost one in three (29 per cent) report they don’t feel prepared for it, based on their current skill set and transferable skills. Millennials – often considered the most tech-savvy – are the most worried (one in four) that their current skill set might prove no longer valuable to their employer.
Recognition of the importance of life-long learning is exceptionally high, with 87 per cent of respondents agreeing that it’s “crucial for career success.” However, the majority (61 per cent) do not anticipate furthering their education to upgrade current skills or to learn new ones.
The survey also revealed sizeable concern – particularly among Millennials – about losing their jobs due to a downturn in the economy. Forty-three percent of Millennials (age 18-34) are worried about losing their jobs if the economy falters, versus 35 per cent among employed Canadians overall.
Regionally, the concern was highest in Alberta (48 per cent) and lowest in British Columbia (25 per cent).
