The travel industry is one of the happiest job sectors in the UK, new research for Travel Counsellors suggests.
Those working in the trade were the most content in their current roles, with less than half (45%) said they would leave their current job in the next 12 months compared to those in the IT & telecoms sector (72%).
Travel also ranked among the top three industries where the 2,000 workers polled were the least likely to regret their career choice, with a satisfaction rate of 61%.
This placed the sector alongside sales, media and marketing (69%), as well as architecture, engineering and building (61%).
When people were asked if they could have their dream job in any industry sector, travel and tourism emerged as number one (18%), followed by healthcare (14%), technology (14%), education (12%) and creative arts and design (12%).
When thinking about a potential career switch, nearly two thirds (59%) said they would consider starting their own business.
The most entrepreneurially minded were the younger generations – more than two thirds of those aged between 16-34 said they would consider setting up on their own, compared to a third of those aged 55-plus.
The top reasons for starting a business were to make more money (41%), better work/life balance (31%), flexible hours (28%), wanting to be in control (28%), wanting to feel more fulfilled (21%) and less day-to-day pressure, and being able to set own targets (18%).
Conversely, the key barriers holding people back include lack of finance (54%), fear of failure (36%), lack of confidence about the skills to create and grow a business (33%), lack of a good idea for a business (21%) and lack of infrastructure and support (21%).
The research was commissioned by Travel Counsellors to mark a drive to help create more than 300 new businesses this year following the company’s record performance in 2023.
Franchise sales director Matt Harding said: “Our research suggests that starting and owning a business is an aspiration for many British workers, who are increasingly seeking both better financial rewards and work-life balance.
“It is clear that many people want to embark on an entrepreneurship journey but find the prospect daunting.
“We enable our people to unlock their entrepreneurial ambitions and build their own travel business through our strong community, and provide full access and support to the right tools, technologies and guidance needed to climb the ladder of success.
Not only that, our franchise owners benefit from much lower initial investment costs compared to starting a similar business on their own.”