Seven out of ten graduates should expect to change their career paths at least once, and one in six may switch three times.

Personnel Today reports a poll of 2,000 UK workers by sector skills council Lifelong Learning revealed career direction is not a straight path.

Along with those changing careers up to three times, some one in eight respondents had switched careers even more. Over half said they had completely retrained for their new positions and workers in the banking, insurance and travel industries are the most nimble movers.

But the survey also found most new graduates have a while to wait until they think of a change in direction: 65 percent said they expected their switch to be in their 30s.

Education adviser at Lifelong Learning, Carolyn Dowding, told Personnel Today: "Changing your career can be a really positive step towards fulfilling your ambitions and aspirations on both a personal and professional level. And making a job switch can be the perfect opportunity to give something back to the community. "