Only 15% Wouldn’t Leave Their Current Job for Any Reason; More Perks and Better Culture are Not Enough to Convince Most Employed Americans to Switch Jobs, Yoh Survey Finds

PHILADELPHIA, PA – April 10th, 2018 – For recruiters and companies looking to hire and retain employees in a climate of low unemployment and an acute skills shortage, knowing why employees may choose to entertain other job offers is critical. According to a new survey of more than 800 employed U.S. adults conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Yoh, a leading international talent and outsourcing company and part of Day & Zimmermann, better benefits (50%)—e.g., paid time off, healthcare options, 401(k)—and a flexible work environment (42%)—e.g., working from home, having a better schedule—were the top reasons, excluding money, that employed Americans say they would leave their current job for a new one.

Results found that just 15% of employed Americans say they would not leave their current job for any reason, indicating that a significant majority of people are open to a job change if the right offer came along. In short, other than the possibility of higher wages, the promise of better benefits (50%) and a flexible work environment (42%) would encourage a number of Americans to listen to other job offers.

Findings include:

A larger proportion of employed women than men would consider leaving their current job for a flexible work environment (44% vs. 39%), and a higher-level position may be more important for employed men as they are more likely to cite leaving for this reason than women (40% vs. 30%).

• The least common reasons employed Americans said they would consider a job change were for a better commute (24%) and more perks such as onsite gyms, daycare, or dry-cleaning (27%).
• Employed millennials (those aged 18-34) are more likely to report they would leave a current job for “a field of work I’m more interested in” than those aged 45+ (43% vs. 24%).
• Of all age groups, those aged 35-44 had the highest proportion of employed Americans (57%) indicate better benefits as a reason they would leave their current job for a new one. Second was the millennial age group (those aged 18-34) with 53%, followed by 50% of 45-54-year-olds, 48% of 55-64-year-olds, and 27% of those aged 65+.

“As a specialized recruiting company, we see this first-hand every day. Those with top skills have choices, and these findings indicate that benefits and workplace flexibility offerings should be clear and compelling when speaking with a prospective candidate about a position,” said Emmett McGrath, President of Yoh. “It is absolutely critical that recruiters identify early in the process each job seeker’s desires when considering a new role, and pair them with opportunities that fit their specific career and lifestyle needs.”

Key survey takeaways for companies to consider when hiring:

• The remote work future is here: Employed Americans may be more open to a job that’s further from home but offers remote work capabilities, rather than a job close to home but mandates more consistent on-site work. Over 2 in 5 employed Americans (42%) would switch jobs for a flexible work environment, while less than one quarter (24%) would switch for a better commute.

• Tempting perks are a fading trend: A few years ago, many companies began offering interesting perks like onsite gyms, daycare services, dry-cleaning, on-site baristas and more to keep employees engaged and content. However, most employed Americans (73%) would not leave their current job for a job that offers those trendy perks, while many seem to be in favor of leaving for a job that offers better traditional benefits like better retirement options, healthcare options, and vacation time (50%).

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Braithwaite from March 27-29, 2018 among 816 employed U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Joe McIntyre at joe@gobraithwaite.com.