Workers are keen to escape the rat race at an average age of 53 - due to inflexibility, horrible bosses and lack of job satisfaction.
A study of 2,000 employed adults found 52 per cent would like to change careers – with burnout (25 per cent), poor work-life balance (23 per cent) and mental health (21 per cent) being the main reasons why.
More than a fifth (22 per cent) want a career which is more active, rather than being stuck in front of a screen all day, with 38 per cent wanting a mix of the two.
Women were keenest to make their exit first, with 24 per cent wanting out of the rat race by the age of 50.
The research was commissioned by London Pilates Academy [https://www.londonpilatesacademy.com/home], which provides Ofqual accredited Pilates training for individuals looking for a career change.
Kristen Dimmock, co-founder at the academy, said: “People across the UK are rethinking what they want from work – we’re seeing a nationwide shift towards roles that support long-term wellbeing and away from the burnout culture.
“The growing ambition among women to take greater control of their working lives reflects wider trends in entrepreneurship and demands for workplace equity, showing a workforce actively seeking more empowered futures.
“We want to help people take control of their future and build a career they truly love.”
Nearly one in three (31 per cent) admit they fear their employer will revert back to full time work in the office within the next five years, losing the value they currently have in working from home.
While 80 per cent of adults who are parents felt a notable shift in priorities once their child came along – driving their desire to find a career that works better for them.
From these, 49 per cent wanted to prioritise spending time with their family, 48 per cent needed more flexible hours and 27 per cent sought job roles closer to home or childcare.
More than half of UK adults (53 per cent) said they’re likely to pursue a career which supports their physical and mental health better in the future, as per OnePoll.com data.
And four in 10 admit to developing a “sedentary lifestyle” – spending most of their time sitting with no physical activity – with 52 per cent of those noticing weight gain, 48 per cent experiencing poor posture or back pain and 45 per cent having lower energy levels.
Of the women polled, 44 per cent have ambitions to be their own boss, with only 38 per cent often feeling “empowered” in their role – compared to 47 per cent of men.
It’s not only seasoned workers seeking to leave the rat race – the research shows Gen Z (66 per cent) and Millennials (59 per cent) are the generations most interested in switching careers.
Eleanor Keech, 27, from London, decided to exit the corporate rat race early after moving between marketing, PR and social media roles.
After working across different roles in investment banks, tech firms and start-ups, Eleanor realised she needed a change after being consumed by work during a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Zealand last year.
She said: “I was always really academic and did well in exams, and that resulted in there being a set expectation and pathway for me.
“When I came out of university, I was micromanaged in the office job roles I went to, and I found that very difficult.”
She was earning just shy of £50,000 in a start-up role, but after being left unpaid for two months, she faced another crossroads.
Earlier this year, Eleanor enrolled in training to become a Pilates instructor with London Pilates Academy and has been studying for two and a half months, hoping to start teaching classes in the new year.
She added: “I’m quite risk averse, and if you told me I would be learning how to teach Pilates last year, I would have said you’re insane.
“But there’s been a huge shift, and I feel far better about myself. I’m more confident after leaving those environments which made me feel small.”
