Approximately 4.5 million employees in the UK are likely to seek a new job this year, according to research from Robert Half UK.

The research, which also used Office of National Statistics workforce figures, showed that 1 in 7 respondents, which comes to 14%, of employees (14% of 32.35 million workers), are likely to job hop, highlighting the opportunities available to candidates and the increasing war for talent amongst UK businesses.

In the last three years, 61% of employers reported an increase in voluntary employee turnover. The research also showed that 51% expect employee turnover to increase in the next three years.

Robert Half stated that 47% of organisations run training and development programmes to help build employees’ skills and support career development, while most don’t have any programmes in place to support employee wellbeing or reward performance.

“Organisations are also missing out on valuable insight from their departing employees, with more than four in five (83%) failing to undertake exit interviews,” the study stated.

“Employee turnover has significant consequences on workplace productivity and growth,” Matt Weston, Managing Director at Robert Half UK, said. “This means retention strategies are now business critical. With a hyper competitive job market, organisations must put staff first by constantly considering workplace happiness and well-being.”

"Employees are a company’s most important resource, regardless of its size or sector,” Weston said. “Failing to keep them happy and motivated has a direct impact on retention and business performance. Businesses need to develop a strategy that incorporates staff wellbeing initiatives alongside career pathing whilst creating a positive company culture and clear sense of purpose."