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Majority of workers are actively hunting for a new job, according to PwC

Posted by Neha De

September 8, 2021

The number of American workers looking for a new job has shot up significantly since spring. An August survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers of 1,007 full-time and part-time U.S.-based employees shows 65% are searching for a different position, up from 35% in May. Some 88% of company executives reported higher-than-normal turnover at their companies.  The No. 1 reason employees gave for considering quitting was to get paid more — some see job changes as an opportunity to close pay gaps — with 46% of women respondents saying better pay was the biggest driver compared to 34% of men. Survey respondents also cited a desire for better benefits, career advancement and more workplace flexibility. Meanwhile, more Hispanic and Black employees are searching for new opportunities at 82% and 67%, respectively, compared to non-Hispanic whites at 57%.  Because of rising inflation, the surge in the delta variant and hesitancy over COVID-19 vaccines, many workers are more interested in remote opportunities. Among those seeking new opportunities, almost 10% say it is because they moved away from the office while working remotely and don’t want to go back on-site. In fact, about 19% of all survey respondents would prefer to be fully remote, even if coronavirus were no longer a threat. On the other hand, many business leaders are concerned about the erosion of company culture and are weighing vaccine mandates. Some 44% of executives indicated they would “take a leadership role in encouraging employees to get vaccinated over the next 12 months.” And 30% of executives revealed that their organizations are looking to implement vaccine mandates. 

Supporting research

A July 2021 poll by The Washington Post revealed that almost 1 in 3 American workers under age 40 have considered changing careers during the pandemic. This younger cohort said the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to examine their life choices and think about what was truly important, which made them not want to stay in a job they do not like.  Another survey from remote and flexible jobs site FlexJobs suggested that when looking at their career paths and what they are looking for in a job, 68% would consider changing careers and listed the main incentive as a better work-life balance rather than higher wages. 

Authors

Neha De
Neha De

Neha De is a writer and editor with more than 13 years of experience. She has worked on a variety of genres and platforms, including books, magazine articles, blog posts and website copy. She is passionate about producing clear and concise content that is engaging and informative. In her spare time, Neha enjoys dancing, running and spending time with her family.

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