49% of employees ready to quit jobs over lack of skills training – Arden University

Almost half (49%) of UK employees were ready to leave their jobs for better professional development opportunities, research from Arden University found. 

64% of employees thought having up-to-date digital, technical or artificial intelligence (AI)-related skills gave them a distinct advantage. 

Almost a third (31%) felt unprepared or uncertain about industry changes, including the rise of AI. 

At the same time, 80% of employers said they struggled to find staff with the right skills, leading to unfilled jobs and lower productivity in sectors like construction and healthcare.

One in five (20%) workers said they doubted their manager’s leadership skills, showing a need for better management development.

Steven Hurst, director of corporate learning at Arden University, said: “Failing to offer meaningful upskilling isn’t just a retention headache; it’s an anchor dragging down economic performance. 

“This development gap is already costing the UK economy up to £39 billion a year in lost productivity. 

“When you factor in the digital skills gap, that figure swells to a staggering £63 billion in lost GDP annually.”