According to research by Croner, part of Wolters Kluwer, more than a third (36%) of those surveyed in full or part-time work feel less secure in their job than they did a year ago compared with only just over one in 10 (13%) feeling more secure.
Nearly half (46%) of respondents in work have not received a salary increase for over a year - and 15% of respondents for over two years. This looks set to continue as around two fifths (41%) of employees surveyed are not expecting a salary increase next year.
But a quarter of respondents (28%) are experiencing green shoots in their company. And young people are more optimistic about the future, with over a third (38%) of 18 to 24 year-old workers feeling more positive about their career in 2010 compared with this year. For the over 55s who work the figure is 15%
Gillian Dowling, employment technical consultant at Croner, said: "With new fears for the global economy as a result of Dubai's recent debt crisis, our results may be an indication of what's in store for 2010.
"Employees have been through a lot this past year, many experiencing large-scale redundancies for the first time, and a large number accepting variations to contractual terms, including reduced working hours and pay freezes - so it's not surprising many people are still feeling unsettled. Employers need to look for cost-effective ways to keep staff motivated and engaged."
"Although employment figures are showing promising signs of improvement and redundancies are beginning to ease, we still have a long way to go. Motivating employees who remain in the business after large-scale redundancies will be an issue for 2010."
