March 2008

Negotiating travel routes in Leeds has become so stressful that only 37% of people would commute for over an hour to get to their dream job, a survey by Unity Personnel has revealed.

Longer working hours and the desire for a better work-life balance means people working in and around the city are frequently sacrificing their ideal career to avoid the trials of the rush hour.

The survey was commissioned by Unity Personnel to better understand the needs of their clients, which include the Engineering, IT and Sales and Marketing sectors, and to facilitate targeted recruitment campaigns.

Travel issues are causing employers within Leeds to miss out on recruiting the region’s brightest talent as people favour jobs close to home, even if they offer fewer future prospects.

When choosing their mode of transport, Unity’s survey also revealed that environmental concerns are the lowest priority for commuters, with only 10% considering the green impact of their commute. The joint most popular reasons cited were time taken to commute and cost at 30%, followed by reliability at 22%.

Of those surveyed, the most popular means of transport was the car, chosen by over 40% of respondents, due to its convenience and reliability. Having to travel to meetings during the day and the distance from public transport routes also make driving the preferred choice for commuters.

Alison Haw, Recruitment Director for Unity Personnel commented “Clearly getting from home to work and back efficiently and comfortably is critical for employees and the regional economy. Leeds is a vibrant commercial centre with many great career opportunities but our survey says the best candidates will not brave a long commute just for this opportunity. It’s an issue employers need to consider and transport policy makers need to address.”