The average person in Wales thinks about quitting their job 17 times a year, and will retrain for an entirely new role twice over the course of their working life. However, they worry that 47 is the age at which it is too late to ever change career again. A study from AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) found that the average person in Wales:
Works 36 hours a week, totalling 1,877 hours a year, and 88,225 hours in the course of their career. More than the UK national average of 34 hours and 26 minutes a week.
Does an additional eight hours of overtime a month, totalling 4,512 hours over the course of the average career.
Gets through three office romances and battles through 553 workplace arguments from when they start working to the day they retire.
However, the average person will get in 7,425 rounds of tea or coffee for their colleagues to smooth over any hard feelings.
The survey also found commuting takes its toll, with the average person in Wales clocking up an average of 39 miles to and from work in a week, or 95,577 miles over their whole career.
Rachel Kellett, Head of Qualifications and Product Development at AAT, which commissioned the study, said:
“The impact our jobs have on our lives spreads far beyond the workplace, taking in days of commuting and thousands of pounds, not to mention the impressive number of tea rounds and cheeky office liaisons we might become entangled in.
“With careers having such a big impact on our lives, it’s important to make sure that we are in the right one. Despite what some people might think, you can make a change at any point in your life – we have people studying finance qualifications while in their 70s.”
Almost a third of people (32%) in Wales have taken the plunge in the past and retrained to follow a new path meant for them. And 20 per cent are currently thinking about retraining for a new career.
Rachel Kellett added:
“It’s easy to look at these figures and get the impression that working life can become something of a grind, resulting in a carousel of commuting, overtime and cups of tea.
“It’s important to make sure you are happy with your career. If you’re not, considering retraining for could help make you more content. At AAT we see people of all ages and backgrounds come to retrain in order to start a new career in finance, and this can have a hugely positive effect on their lives.”
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