Robert Half: 1 in 3 employees plan to jump ship in next few months

The latest research from staffing firm Robert Half has revealed that 1 in 3 employees plan to look for a new role in the next few months. 

Of those, 39% want to pursue a contracting career. The top reasons cited are to obtain a salary boost and have greater opportunities for career advancement (29% each). Although the majority of workers surveyed (87%) feel confident about their current skill set and job security. But that doesn’t guarantee they’ll stay put.

“Since the pandemic started, professionals have endured an uncertain employment landscape,” commented Robert Half’s Senior Executive Director Paul McDonald. “As we turn the corner on Covid-19 and business conditions improve, employers will face new hiring and retention challenges and must adapt to meet the needs of a more resilient and resolute workforce.”

STAFF READY TO MOVE

Employees who are looking to move jobs include:

• 55% of Gen Z employees (ages 18 to 24); 32% said the main reason is due to lack of professional development opportunities at their current company. 
• More men (36%) than women (29%) who anticipate launching a job search in the next few months. 
• Professionals earning less than $50,000 a year are most interested in making a career move. 
• Among the 28 US cities in the survey, workers in Atlanta (50%), Charlotte (44%), Houston and Sacramento (41%) are most likely to look for a new role.

NON-NEGOTIABLE VALUES

Nearly 1 in 3 professionals (31%) said they had a shift in perspective due to the pandemic; and prefer to work for an organisation that better aligns with their personal values. In addition, 71% of employees would leave a company whose values don’t align with their own. The corporate programmes most important to workers are employee wellbeing (70%) and diversity, equity and inclusion (47%). 

“Today’s employees have high expectations of their employer. They want to belong to an organisation that puts people first and takes action to create positive change in the workplace and community,” said Lynne Smith, Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources at Robert Half.

FLEXIBILITY A MUST

When considering a career change, many professionals will overlook traditional office jobs; 47% reported wanting a fully remote role and 39% said they’re interested in full-time contracting. Millennials are most likely to favour fully remote jobs and a career in contracting.

“Professionals with in-demand skills know they have options – and leverage,” McDonald noted. “Now is the time for companies to rethink where and how jobs are done and reshape organisational structures and policies to retain and attract the best talent.”

TOP TAKEAWAYS

The study recommends the following three best practices to increase job satisfaction and reduce turnover:

1. Make professional development plans. Partner with top performers to define their long-term objectives; and provide challenging assignments and skill-building opportunities that will help them reach their goals without leaving the company. 
2. Continually refine organisational culture. Keep a pulse on the most important drivers of employee wellbeing and engagement; and act on feedback in a timely manner. 
3. Embrace flexibility. Companies that adopt a hybrid work model and hire a mix of permanent and contract talent can enjoy the benefits of improved staff morale, better performance and access to a deeper and more diverse candidate pool.

The US isn’t the only market with staff retention challenges. Employers worldwide are optimistic that hiring levels will return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021, reveals a recent study. Click here to read more.