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Today, when Americans switch jobs, they’re not just making changes around the edges.
A real-life survey of 35 million profiles in major workplaces shows that 64% of workers who switched employment between 2022 and 2024 also changed careers.
In the field, workers left at the highest rate: hospitality, arts and entertainment.
People who cultivate the most loyalty: nursing and software development;
Experts attribute this trend to a shift that took root during the Covid-19 pandemic, sparking 22 million layoffs and a new perspective on work.
On a practical level, the health crisis created an unprecedented labor shortage, allowing workers to jump on the job for better wages, benefits and unspecified compensation.
“People could really change jobs if they wanted,” said Allison Srivastaba, an economist at the Actual Employment Lab, a field research department. As a result, she said, “There are many more opportunities for people to change their careers.”
How has Covid-19 affected the workforce?
Covid-19 has also caused deeper changes. During the crisis, many workers burned out as they struggled for so long to fill for their colleagues. It has driven desires among many Americans for better work-life balance, remote or hybrid work setup, and greater work fulfillment.
“People really wanted to align their careers with their personal vision and values,” said Toni Frana, career expert at FlexJobs, an employment search site specializing in remote and hybrid jobs and roles with flexible time.
The Jobhopping frenzy, known as the great resignation, has waned with the pandemic, but it appears that a fresh attitude about career fulfillment and work-life balance has endured.
A survey by USA Today’s FlexJobs in February found that 24% of Americans wanted to change occupations the previous year, 6% did, and another 39% said they were considering switching this year. This is almost 70% of workers’ careers, according to an online survey of 2,293 respondents conducted by Surveymonkey.
What is the reason for the change in your career?
The biggest reason: 67% of respondents quoted, followed by work-life balance (52%), more meaningful or fulfilling careers (48%) and higher (48%), FlexJobs polls revealed.
In fact, FlexJobs has no previous data on carrier switcher share a few years ago. However, Labor Bureau figures suggest that this practice was less common. In January 2024, workers were 3.9 years median, with current employers, and 4.1 years of January 2022, down from the shortest tenure since 1 year and January 2002.
Generally, the fewest workers will follow their actual practice and switch to occupations that require formal qualifications, licensing, training and professional skills. Additionally, there are more turnover in fields with lower entry barriers and usually lower pay.
According to actual research, the top five occupations that Americans remained between 2022 and 2024 are:
Hospitality and sightseeing
Share of workers leaving in two years: 91%.
Main reasons: There is not much upward mobility in this area, in fact, Srivastaba said.
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According to financial services company PayACTIV, many workers have low-paid jobs with long hours and unpredictable schedules.
Arts and Entertainment
Share of workers leaving in two years: 86%
Main reasons: The work of actors and authors is attractive, but the chances of success are low.
“Many people may try it,” Srivastava said, but leaving for a more stable occupation.
Childcare
Share of workers leaving in two years: 86%
Main reason: The field is rewarding. But “it’s a lot of work for a lot of wages,” Srivastava said.
During the pandemic, the sector has fired or fled 373,000 employees, or 36% of its workforce.
Logistics Support
Share of workers leaving in two years: 86%
Main reasons: Due to supply chain troubles during the pandemic, many logistics workers have stopped paying better and reducing stress, according to logistics company Intelligent Audit.
Personal care and home hygiene
Share of workers leaving in two years: 86%
Main reasons: The job can be rewarding, but many people leave because of low pay, long hours and inconsistent schedules, according to Carevoyant, which makes software for the industry.
This is the bottom five field workers left between 2022 and 2024.
nursing
Share of workers leaving in two years: 28%
Main reasons: There is a lot of demand for nurses, wages rise and after investing time and money to earn a nursing degree, it is rare for nurses to leave, Srivastava said.
Software Development
Share of workers leaving in two years: 37%
Main reasons: Software developers have relatively high pay and job satisfaction levels, Shrivastava said. It is also a low-stress job with a good work-life balance, according to US news rankings.
Dentistry
Share of workers leaving in two years: 38%
Main reasons: Wages are good, investment in schooling is important, skills cannot be transferred to other professions, Shrivastava said.
Treatment
Share of workers leaving in two years: 51%
Main reasons: Occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists earn a comfortable life and are highly satisfied with their job, Srivastava said.
accounting
Share of workers leaving in two years: 52%
Main reasons: Accountants have professional skills, a stable work environment and excellent work-life balance, Shrivastava said.