More than half of New Zealand employees were willing to change their careers within the next year, a study by Robert Half found.
In a study developed by the talent solutions provider, about 57% of New Zealand workers expressed their willingness to change their careers. Employees who expressed a willingness to switch said their current roles in organizations were not aligned with their career goals or lifestyle requirements.
"More professionals are reassessing their career trajectories in the current economic landscape. The instability and fluctuations experienced in both work and life in recent years have motivated many to explore new avenues for growth, stability or better alignment with their personal values,” said Robert Half director Ronil Singh.
“The concept of a lifelong career is outdated, as individuals recognise the transferability of their skills and the potential for a career change to provide a renewed sense of purpose and a brighter future.”
Notably, 58% of those who were willing to change their careers said that their desire to do so was motivated by the thought of increasing their earning potential, while 56% wanted an improvement with their work-life balance and 50% were looking to get new challenges or skills.
Millennial workers were the most willing to change their careers, with 66% of them expressing the desire to do so.
Singh pointed out that there were many factors that contributed to the changes in perspectives among the employees in New Zealand.
“In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers are reassessing their priorities, placing greater emphasis on work-life balance. Others are grappling with the rising cost of living and stagnant wages, prompting a search for careers that offer improved compensation and financial stability,” Singh said.
“Additionally, certain industries have been disproportionately affected by economic downturns, compelling workers to seek opportunities in more resilient sectors with promising long-term prospects.”
He emphasized the need for firms to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the workforce.
“Offering competitive compensation, flexible work arrangements and opportunities for professional growth are essential for attracting and retaining top talent, especially when these aspects of a role can be a reason to push staff out the door and into a new career path,” said Singh.
The report involved a survey conducted online to 501 full-time office workers across New Zealand and was part of the international workplace survey.
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