The study by the IBM Institute for Business Value of more than 14,000 adults world-wide finds that many who voluntarily switched professions last year may be seeking new employers this year. For both years, these employees are blaming COVID-19 disruptions for wanting to change jobs.
Twenty-percent of employees said they voluntarily changed employers last year, with more than half of these job hoppers being from generation Z (33%) and millennials (25%). Of the nearly 30% of those who plan to change jobs this year, a flexible schedule or work location and better benefits and support for their wellness are most important.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed employees' expectations of their employers, and leaders should take a more empathetic and personalized approach to attracting and retaining talent, especially for Gen Z and Millennial candidates and employees who may be more likely to make voluntary employer or occupation changes,” says Amy Wright, managing partner, IBM Talent & Transformation. “That can include developing tailored learning plans and career paths for employees, fostering inclusive and flexible cultures and removing bias in hiring with the help of technologies like AI.”