More than three-fourths of U.S. millennial workers who quit their job do so because of minimal wage growth, according to a new study by Ernst & Young in New York City. Nearly 9,700 full-time workers in eight nations participated in the online survey.
"Knowing that millennials and parents are under increasing pressure, we wanted to understand what employees seek in a job and why they quit, why they stay and how this differs by generation," said Karyn Twaronite, EY global diversity & inclusiveness officer.
The reasons why millennials quit vary from country to country. The top five reasons in the United States are:
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Minimal wage growth (78 percent)
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Lack of advancement opportunities (75 percent)
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Excessive overtime hours (72 percent)
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An environment that doesn't encourage teamwork (66 percent)
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A boss who doesn't allow flexibility (66 percent)
An employee's family situation is another important factor. Parents are more likely than non-parents to mention a lack of opportunity to advance as a reason to quit, which shows continued career ambition after having children. Parents also are more likely to emphasize flexibility issues.
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So what are millennials seeking in a job? The report found these priorities:
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Competitive pay and benefits
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Flexible hours, while still remaining on track for promotion
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Working with supportive bosses and colleagues
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Paid parental leave onsite or subsidized child care and telecommuting one or two days a week.
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Alan Goforth
Alan Goforth is a freelance writer in suburban Kansas City. In addition to freelancing for several publications, he has written a dozen books about sports and other topics.
