Lockdown learning could lead to future career changes
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With more time spent at home than ever before, those under 35 seem to be using it wisely to build up their skillset to boost their career during a time of economic uncertainty.
Life is a lot quieter for many right now - no commute, no weekend plans and nearly a quarter of the British workforce are currently furloughed.
People have been left with a lot time to fill, with many choosing to use that time to learn or try something new.
New research from flatsharing site SpareRoom has found that 61 percent of under 35-year-olds have been learning a new skill or trying a new activity during lockdown.
Almost half of those who are learning or trying something new have devoted their time to educational activities, like a new language, taking an online course or even learning to code.
The research also shows that 13 percent of this group have ramped up their side hustle by focusing on something entrepreneurial, like developing business opportunities.
39 percent of those under 35 believe their newfound skills will be transferrable to their current jobs, with 89 percent keen to apply their new ability to life and work outside of lockdown.
One in five of those who have learnt or tried something new are even considering a complete career change as a result of the pandemic.
Out of this group who are trying something different, 75 percent have focused on fitness, 54 percent are working on their culinary skills, 67 percent are trying their hand at creative disciplines like painting, learning a musical instrument or photography and 14 percent are mastering the art of meditation.
DIY and home improvements, including gardening have also been a big hit during lockdown for those learning or trying something new, with 23 percent fixing household objects, improving their outdoor space and re-decorating to help alleviate stress and boredom during this challenging time.
One in seven of those doing something new have gone back to basics, keeping themselves entertained and their minds active, by spending hours completing puzzles.
Even perfecting TikTok moves, learning sign language and calligraphy have been taken on by under 35s in isolation over the last two months.
The new skills and hobbies the 2377 respondants aged 18 - 34 have taken up through lockdown include:
- Fitness (75 percent)
- Getting creative e.g. drawing, knitting, sewing (67 percent)
- Cooking and/or baking (54 percent)
- Educational e.g. learning a new language, a skill, taking a course, coding (43 percent)
- DIY or home improvements including gardening (23 percent)
- Puzzles (14 percent)
- Meditation (14 percent)
- Developing business opportunities (13 percent)
- Volunteering (six percent)
- Reading (one percent)
Tough though lockdown is, there can be positives to take from an extended period of time spent at home, with 38% of those who have learnt or tried something new during the pandemic admitting they would never have done so had we not gone into lockdown. 89% of those who have learnt or tried something new have found that devoting this time to self-education, whether studying a new skill or concentrating on an existing one, has also been good for their mental health during lockdown.
SpareRoom's Matt Hutchison said: “Being in lockdown has its ups and downs but it’s provided lots of us with something we aren’t used to having and that’s time.
"That means a one-off opportunity to do things we’d never have normally done, and it’s great to see that so many people are using their free time to learn something new.
"Whether it’s learning to code or speak a new language, using the time to get fit or indulging a love of baking, it’s great to see that many of these activities will be carried on after lockdown and some can be transferred into people’s current jobs, or even into new careers.
"Could there be a skills boom once lockdown ends?
"It would be great to think so, and that something positive can come out of a difficult time.”
