Research out today from totaljobs.com found 52% of public sector workers would consider industrial action. Of those that would consider taking action, 83% would do so in reaction to proposed job cuts and 54% against changes to pension rights. The research outlines where public sector workers believe cuts should be made, with 69% outlining external consultancy and 56% saying management, something reiterated by Will Hutton and the Work Foundation's in its report, Pay in the Public Sector.
But a discrepancy appears when asked where they believe cuts will be made, with one in three (30%) stating that frontline staff will bear the brunt, compared to 6% who said senior management and 12% who said middle-management. An overwhelming 78% of public sector workers believe that the cuts made will make no improvement to efficiency or management. Although many public sector workers are considering a move into the private sector, one in three (31%) believe they don't have relevant experience to move out of the public sector. With 45% of respondents having ten or more years' experience in the public sector, there is an indication that many do not have the transferrable skills and motivation to move.
John Salt, director, Totaljobs, said: "Our research clearly shows resentment towards managers among frontline workers, with 56% stating management should bear the brunt of cuts. However, a career in the public sector should not be ruled out; our research with the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) found that 2.1 million job vacancies will need to be filled in the public sector by 2015/16, so this could give some hope to those looking to stay in the public sector."
The research also shows 81% of those public sector workers surveyed believe that the public doesn't understand the full scope of what the public sector does and a similar percentage (85%) believe that the public sector is being made a scapegoat for the economic downturn. With 83% believing that the public doesn't appreciate the sector, this sentiment is further exacerbated by the Government's rhetoric, which 71% feel is causing antipathy towards public sector workers. This comes at a time when Lord Hutton's public service pensions commission has recommended that public sector workers will have to work for up to six years longer and are to expect a lower pension upon retirement. Salt added: "Since the comprehensive spending review, we have seen a sea change in the attitude of public sector workers. Our research clearly demonstrates that the public sector workforce is extremely concerned about their jobs, to the point where more strikes are likely. However, reducing benefits such as pensions could mean we see a degree of core talent leaving the sector or indeed, not entering it at all. With most 40- or 50-year-olds unlikely to be affected, it is tomorrow's generation of teachers and doctors that need to be engaged and motivated to join a sector that may be increasingly being seen as one that offers little career progression and long-term security - historically, two of the dominant factors that attracted people to this sector."
Finally, the survey indicates that the comprehensive spending review and the public pensions shake-up are having a knock-on effect on how public sector workers feel about the major political parties. While nearly 80% feel jobs are less secure compared to last year, the survey reveals that the Labour Party has gained ground on the Coalition Government. Support for the Liberal Democrats among public sector workers has slumped from a fifth (21%) before the general election to just 8%, while Labour's 27% support last year has grown to 40% in 2011. Of those that changed their political allegiance, 56.4% said they did so because they felt betrayed by a change in that party's policies, suggesting public sector workers are unhappy that parties such as the Liberal Democrats have not fulfilled their manifesto pledges.
Totaljobs.com asked 1669 UK public sector workers registered on its website what their expectations of the job market were. The research was carried out by totaljobs.com in conjunction with eDigital Research during February 2011.
