With Better Times: Workers Look For New Opportunities

Over One Third of Workers Intending to Move Jobs When Recession Ends

Better economic conditions will provide massive relief for everyone in business. Recovering job markets will also present another challenge for HR departments worldwide—a mass shift of workers from jobs, in search for better opportunities.

A survey by Robert Half International asked professionals about their future career plans. In more than 3,000 workers surveyed, 37 percent say they want to leave their current role as soon as the economy evens out. Nearly half (47 percent) say they will make the change within six months after seeing clear evidence of financial improvement.

Overall, 78 percent say they are fortunate to have a job in this market, but 26 percent say they have been disappointed in their position for 12 months or longer.

The two industries most likely to be affected by job migration are public relations and marketing: 62 percent of workers in those segments say they are unhappy with their jobs. IT and legal professionals are second most with 49 percent, followed by those with secretarial or personal assistant jobs, with 45 percent.

The survey found another powerful trend; salary is not the foremost consideration when seeking a new job. The top two are location (57%) and schedule/working hours (56%); both cited as a higher priority than pay (51%).

For those contemplating leaving their jobs for more pay, the average increase they desire is about $6,500 per year.

The Top 5 Priorities When Looking For a New Job:

1. Location

2. Working hours

3. Pay rise

4. Promotion

5. Job perks

Not everyone is planning to be leaving their jobs when things get better; for them, it is a desire to change their current position to become more content on the job.

One in five (20 %) anticipate asking for a raise; something that was off the table for the past few years.
Another 20 percent expect to be more assertive on the job.
Seventeen percent (17%) will be pushing for increased responsibilities/a promotion.

When the mass job exodus is underway—very soon, by many accounts—the problem is for Human Resources Departments to work harder for retention. If times are actually getting better, then things like pay increases, perks and loyalty benefits must become more prevalent.

Once again, HR will be called to boost employee morale and support happy workers—it would be embarrassing if a company’s top performers jump ship, especially after helping a company make it through difficult times.