A new survey sheds light on just how many workers will search for a new job in the coming months, although many are pessimistic about their career paths.
Almost half of U.S. workers — 48 percent — are likely to look for a new job in the next year, according to the American Staffing Association Workforce Monitor survey. The Harris Poll conducted the survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults.; 1,111 were employed.
Almost 40 percent are likely to change careers, the survey found. Broken down by generation, 51 percent of Millennials expressed this, 39 percent of Gen Zers, 34 percent of Gen Xers and just 12 percent of Baby Boomers.
Possibly the most telling survey finding: Almost 45 percent of workers worry they’ll never find their perfect job.
Among office-administrative, industrial and professional-managerial industry sectors, 51 percent, 48 percent and 47 percent have this concern, per survey results. About 40 percent of healthcare workers and one-third of engineering, IT and scientific sector workers also feel pessimistic about this.
Just over 60 percent of those who are unemployed but looking also worry about finding the perfect job. Among students, about 7 in 10 have this concern, perhaps deservedly so, considering the unemployment rate is currently higher for recent college graduates than other age groups.
Another survey also found close to half of workers will look for new jobs in the coming months. A recent Gallup poll revealed less than half of workers would call their jobs good and women of color are most likely to be disappointed with their employment.
When employees do quit, a bad boss is to blame about half the time, one recent poll found.
“It’s a job seeker’s market — a reality lost on many people who, as the ASA Workforce Monitor shows, sadly lack optimism about their prospects of finding a perfect position,” said Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and CEO, per a news release.
The economy added 128,000 jobs in October — the 109th month of consecutive job growth — and the unemployment rate stayed low at 3.6 percent, per The New York Times.
To meet demand for workers, companies have begun to recruit retirees, immigrants, stay-at-home parents and those with disabilities or criminal records, per The New York Times.
To get them to stay, employers are offering continued learning or professional development opportunities, or cultivating a strong company culture.
Wage growth, however, remains stagnant and income inequality is growing, and experts point out that job quality has declined over the past four decades.
Other reasons workers might be feeling pessimistic about their prospects, HR Dive notes, include negative experiences with recruiting processes, or learning things about companies through rating sites that leave job seekers uneasy.