As part of the promotion of adult learners week, Learndirect have released the results of a survey revealing that ninety-seven per cent of adults feel that they have not achieved their childhood dreams, and over half (51%) of workers are actively seeking a change in direction.

Research that looked into the career dreams and ambitions of kids from the 1950s to the present day, throws interesting light on the notion that work may now be less fulfilling than it once was. When questioned, nearly half (47%) of adults said that they have not accomplished any of the goals they set for themselves when they were in their late teens.

With more than half of adults interviewed (51%) still working in the field in which their career began, it should come as no surprise that nearly a third (32%) of adults now feel let down or bored with their current profession, agreeing that work has turned out less satisfying than expected. The most common cause stated for failing to achieve ambitions included lack of confidence and being discouraged by friends and family (15%) and poor grades and guidance over career choice whilst at school (22%).

Those most dissatisfied with their chosen profession are 18-22 year olds. Of them, 38% claim their career had gone worse than they had hoped, 68% of those wished they taken more training when they had a chance. Yet once in the work place, only 16% of respondents admit to wanting to take up a course, with one in ten (12%) feeling that the doors for training in the workplace are firmly closed.