A quarter of global employees seeking new job opportunities

Overworked individuals and financially strained employees are among those seeking greater fulfilment and authenticity in their job roles.
By: | June 21, 2023
Topics: Digital Transformation | Employee Experience | Hybrid Working | Learning and Development | News | Professional Development | Talent Management

Driven by factors such as feeling overworked and an inability to pay monthly bills, one in four employees are looking to change jobs in the next 12 months. Gen Z employees are also more likely than to be seeking alternative employment, according to PwC.

PwC’s 2023 Hopes and Fears Global Workforce Survey, which studied the attitudes and behaviours of nearly 54,000 employees in 46 countries and territories, also highlighted the correlation between job satisfaction and factors such as purpose, organisational culture, and inclusion. Only 47% of those considering a job change find their current positions fulfilling, compared to 57% of those intending to stay. Additionally, those likely to change jobs are less likely to feel comfortable being themselves at work (51% versus 59%).

Highlighting the need for organisations to prioritise inclusivity and provide training opportunities for all employees to succeed in a rapidly evolving landscape, Bob Moritz, Global Chair of PwC, said, “The global workforce is divided into two—those with valuable skills who are well set to keep learning, and those without.”

According to PwC, financially strained employees face barriers to accessing training programmes essential for adapting to the future of work, including upskilling to address the rise of AI. The survey revealed that they are 12 percentage points less likely to seek development opportunities (50% versus 62%) and less inclined to utilise feedback for performance management (45% versus 57%), when compared to more financially stable employees.

READ MORE: Gen Z and millennials seek better work-life balance

These employees exhibit more optimism regarding AI’s impact on productivity and job prospects with 37% of them indicating AI will enhance their productivity, compared to only 25% of financially struggling employees. Moreover, financially secure employees are more likely to view AI as a creator of new job opportunities (24% versus 19%) and express fewer concerns about negative changes to the nature of their work (13% versus 18%).