What Has Caused The Rise In Job Hoppers?

Written by Tom Clegg on .

The new wave of Millennial and Generation Z employees have caused many changes to work culture, including job-hopping. Whereas Baby Boomers were likely to stay with one company for their entire career, younger generations are becoming known as ‘job-hoppers’. A relatively new trend, employers are increasingly finding it difficult to retain employees who crave new opportunities and challenges.

It is now not uncommon for employees to change careers every 1-2 years and even industries multiple times over the course of their working lives. This flexible approach to a career is becoming more popular due to the varied experience, personal development and professional opportunities it offers. However, this trend is not a welcome one for some employers who do not want to invest in staff who do not plan on staying for the long-term. Research by Indeed has revealed that 77% of employers have chosen not to interview candidates based on their job history consisting heavily of short-term jobs. However, the same research has shown that 98% of UK employees have changed jobs at least once over the last five years.

So, what has caused this rise in ‘job hoppers’?

Lower Unemployment Rates

Firstly, according to Trading Economics, the employment rate in the UK is at an all-time high with 32.75 million people in employment. This leaves the UK unemployment rate at the lowest level since 1974. This provides job seekers with more opportunities, able to shop around for their next career. According to data from Indeed, 40% of those under 35 have a positive perception of job-hopping and the potential benefits.  

The Benefits Of Job-Hopping

The positive perception of job-hopping is not unjustified, with getting a range of experience offering a variety of benefits. Some of the benefits of job-hopping include:

  • Gaining a variety of experience: Working in a range of roles for various companies provides people with a wealth of knowledge on the inner workings of different companies and work cultures. Having a wide scope of experience provides employees with fresh ideas and perspectives. 
  • Growing a network: The more companies you work in, the larger your network of contacts will become. With a powerful network comes more opportunities and is a big asset for an employee.
  • More opportunity to find the right fit: In the early days of a career, it’s almost impossible to find the right fit straightaway. Whether it’s the company culture, job role or limited opportunity for career progression. If you work in various companies, you’ll have more opportunity to realise what job and company culture will suit you best.

With a growing positive attitude towards job-hopping and clear individual benefits for employees,  employers have to decide whether they will adjust to this change. Contrary to popular opinion amongst employers, they could stand to gain from employees with a rich and varied job history, even if it consists of mainly short-term positions. Employees who have a wealth of experience in various different environments may have a wider range of skills, be quicker to adapt to new environments and have a broader understanding of a variety of sectors – skills which every employer would benefit from.