The number of people applying to work for an overseas voluntary group has increased dramatically as a new report gives evidence of a "crisis" in the workplace because of British industry's long hours culture.

Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) said there has been a huge surge in the number of people applying to work abroad, up by a third to 19,000 in the last six months.

The group also disclosed the findings of a new opinion poll suggesting that millions of people are unhappy in their jobs, forced to work harder and longer.

A survey of over 1,000 workers found that over half complained of becoming workaholics to keep up with the demands of their jobs.

Two out of three said they would choose a job they enjoyed even if it paid less and one in five said the millennium was making them question how much they were getting out of life.

One in four said their job was "taking over" their lives.

VSO said the huge increase in applications to work abroad was all the more staggering because a year ago fewer people were contacting the organisation.

The number of skilled and qualified applicants has increased by 25 per cent in the past six months, said VSO.

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