Job searches continue as employees seek better accommodations, study finds
New survey suggests a third of employees are currently looking for new jobs in search of higher pay, flexibility, and accommodations.
Over a year in, the Great Resignation is still going strong. According to a new survey by non-profit research group, The Conference Board, over 30% of employees are currently searching for a new job, while only 38% of respondents say they’d like to retain their present position. An additional 28% of the 1,100 workers surveyed say they remain undecided on whether or not they want to stay at their current organization.
Among those who have left their jobs in the past year, common motivating factors include seeking higher pay and wanting more flexibility in their work schedule or location. Many employees also quit due to high workloads: Some 11% of all those who had quit their jobs say job fatigue was a factor, with Millennials and women particularly likely to be affected.
“Combine the ability to work any time with heavier workloads as colleagues resign amid the Great Resignation, and it’s no surprise we’ve seen a severe increase in employees who are overwhelmed at work,” says Conference Board Vice President of Human Capital Robin Erickson. “And now, this survey reveals that more than 1 in 10 are quitting because of it. Managers should regularly monitor their employees’ workload to ensure it is manageable.”
Around 13% of all workers started a new job within the past year, though that number jumped up to 23% amongst Millennials. Those workers were largely satisfied with their decisions to leave their previous roles, with 94% saying they don’t regret their choices.
Still, that doesn’t mean employers have no way to win former employees back. Around 1 in 4 of those who have quit say they would consider returning to their previous companies, and those numbers are even higher amongst people of color.
Related: Turning the Great Resignation into the Great Retention
Overall, Rebecca Ray, the Executive Vice President of Human Capital at The Conference Board, says hiring remains a worker’s game. “Our survey results reveal they continue to want more flexibility and higher pay, and they’ll go elsewhere to attain these benefits. But slowing economic growth makes the decision to jump ship riskier. To retain talent, companies should work with their employees to determine to what extent they can accommodate their needs.”