This Saturday (11th November 2017), in the UK it seems it will be unattached women that will be celebrating the occasion as China gets set to mark Singles’ Day.
Mintel’s solitary Lifestyles UK 2017 Report reveals that 61% of solitary ladies state these are typically happy with their relationship status, when compared with 49% of solitary males. Overall, it would appear that unattached Brits have been in no rush to discover a partner. As many as 70% of singles in the united kingdom say they will have perhaps not actively attempted to find a partner within the last few 12 months*, rising to 75% of females.
Today, 42% of Brits describe their relationship status as single**, while 58% state they’re in a relationship***. Of singles who have tried to find-bride locate a partner in the last year*, 68% have used electronic techniques, such as for instance a dating website or application, while 40% have actually seemed to generally meet some body through buddies and 19% have actually attended activities. Meanwhile, just 6% have speed-dated.
Jack Duckett, Senior Consumer Lifestyles Analyst at Mintel, said:
“It is easy to assume that all singletons are earnestly buying partner; nevertheless, our data demonstrates that this will be definately not always being the situation. A lot of this reluctance to find somebody are attributed to the young increasingly prioritising their education, professions and stability that is financial being in relationships.”
While many aren’t actively searching for love, it appears that the solitary life can have its disadvantages, particularly if it comes to finances. Simply 36% of singles in britain say they feel financially secure, compared to 52per cent of the who’re in a relationship. Furthermore, 29% of singletons include spending bills among their top three lifestyle challenges, while 25% concern yourself with paying the rent/mortgage.
Societal pressures also prove challenging for a lot of singletons. Over one in three (38%) singles bother about being alone, with this specific sentiment rising among young singletons; 54% of solitary 18-24s bother about being alone. As well as in the era of social networking, Mintel research discovers that 33% of singles state that they feel under great pressure in order to make their life appear more fulfilled than it really is.
Mintel research also highlights that for many people being in a relationship continues to be a symbol of readiness. Certainly, 54% of singles say they are not where they have been expected to take life at how old they are, and 25% think their peers tend to be more grown up than they’re.
“While attitudes towards marriage and relationships may have be liberal, there continues to be a focus that is societal being partnered up and a sense of responsibility to stay a relationship. For marketers, this paves the way for campaigns that counter this concept, and alternatively concentrate on the strengths of being single. From the commercial perspective, there’s also scope for retailers in the united kingdom to consider capitalising regarding the increasingly popular Chinese festival-cum-ecommerce occasion Singles’ Day, taking place on 11th November.” Jack adds.
Finally, it would appear that those in relationships or who’re married tend to be more confident solo that is doing than singletons. While 73% of those in relationships say they feel somewhat or extremely confident going to the theatre or cinema by themselves, this falls to simply 68% of singles. Furthermore, 61% of attached Brits say they are confident eating out in a restaurant alone, in comparison to 56% of singles.
“Singles’ reduced confidence in solo tasks could mirror the perception that these kinds of tasks are just appropriate doing either as being a few or as part of a group. For leisure brands in particular, this underlines the opportunity to create promotions that will help to lessen the stigma surrounding doing activities such as venturing out for dinner, or visiting the cinema alone, reframing these activities as providing valuable ‘me time’.” Jack concludes.
*12 months to July 2017
**Single, separated, divorced or not cohabiting
***Married, in a civil partnership or living as hitched