Despite claiming to be motivated and content in their current position, UK workers are always on the look out for the next job opportunity, research suggests.

Recruitment firm Adecco surveyed over 1,000 British workers to explore the extent to which employees are committed and engaged in their job and the current level of job-hunting activity amongst these employees.

They found that 40 per cent of UK employees who said they were happy in their current job have applied for a new job or registered with a recruitment agency in the past 12 months.

The web has become the number one search tool for jobseekers, with 59 per cent preferring to use the job sections of company websites than adverts in national and local newspapers to search for new positions.

Six out of ten workers surveyed think they are responsible for motivating themselves to make their jobs more satisfying, while nearly half (47 per cent) believe it is harder to get a better job now than three years ago.

The top factors that attract job seekers to a new company or role are interesting or challenging work, friendly working environment and regular pay rises.

Steven Kirkpatrick, managing director of Adecco, said: "We are seeing a high number of UK workers taking an 'always on the look out' approach to job hunting.

"In an increasingly competitive market, UK employees are aware that whilst they may feel content and motivated in their current position, it is important to keep new opportunities on the radar."

Kirkpatrick added: "The Internet has created a new generation of 'career traders'. In the past, job hunters would be more reticent at seeking out their perfect job match however we are now seeing a more proactive approach, with job seekers scanning for the best deals."