Most Brits actually enjoy their jobs, according to a survey carried out by Birmingham Midshires (BM) mortgages.

According to the report 71% claimed they like their occupation, 16% were ‘indifferent’ and only 12% said they disliked their current job. Lawyers (24%), journalists (23%) and beauticians (20%) are the most likely to be happy with their lot.

At the other end of the spectrum call centre workers (85%), car mechanics (78%) and factory workers (62%) are most likely to “want a change of direction”.

But despite claiming contentment in their day-to-day work over half (52%) of the respondents said they would change career if they felt they could. Reasons for hesitation include not being able to give up work to re-train (36%), salary decrease worries (35%) and the level of financial strain that may be imposed on their family (26%).

Tim Hague, managing director of mortgages at BM, said: “We spend a huge proportion of our lives at work – around 1,920 hours per year – and our findings act as a positive reinforcement that most people are content in their current job.”

ED’S COMMENT

I find it hard to believe that only 12% of people actively dislike the job they are in. I commute by train to work each day and the labouring hordes don’t look like they’re enjoying the trip to work to me. But Tim Hague is a powerful and perceptive commentator on these sorts of issues, and BM has a good name for getting things right, so I’ll go along with it and say that I absolutely love my job and can I have a raise please sir?