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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Helen Salter

We quit jobs to travel and find purpose – now we’re facing a ‘job-apocalypse’

George, 29, quit his job in Bristol at the start of 2025 after working for seven years as a civil engineer - (Supplied)

Two years ago. Joe Wilson, a 27-year-old engineer from Bristol, quit his mechanical engineering job. After spending 10 months travelling around Latin America – which he’d saved for a year and a half to afford – he’s now hoping to make a long-term move to Mexico City to live with his girlfriend, whom he met while travelling.

Unfortunately for Joe, he finds himself bearing the brunt of a job market that’s in deepening trouble: “I’m back home as finding work in Mexico has been difficult; back here I can earn money doing odd jobs and bar work,” he tells me.

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