Willingness to change jobs remains high, Xing survey finds

5 February 2024

Over a third of employees willing to change jobs, security prioritised importance of company location resurging

Around 37 per cent of interviewees were actively looking for a new job or were at least open a change, a survey conducted by the Forsa research institute in January on behalf of the job network Xing has found. The percentage indicates that the willingness among employees to change jobs remains high. Around 94 per cent of respondents were not worried about losing their job and cited demographic change, a shortage of skilled workers and a stable social security system as the reasons. However, the need for security remains high. A company’s location is regaining importance for employees in the wake of corporate efforts to prompt a return to the office. Around 3,200 adults in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland were interviewed online for the survey.

Willingness to change jobs remains high

Around 7 per cent of respondents seek a change of employer while 30 per cent could imagine doing so, but have not yet undertaken anything. Employees aged 18 to 29 are particularly willing to change jobs. Many (88 per cent) are worried that they could be made redundant. However, most employees surveyed (62 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women) wish to stay with their current employer, as two thirds are somewhat or very satisfied with their current job (67 per cent).

Earnings most important aspect of new job

Respondents contemplating a job change cited earnings (73 per cent), an attractive location (65 per cent), flexible working hours (64 per cent), long-term job security and good management (62 per cent each) as the most important criteria when looking for a new employer. Those who wish to stay with their present employer cited similar reasons. "It's all about the right mix of hard and soft factors, i.e., offering both an appropriate salary and an appreciative culture as well", said Thomas Kindler, Managing Director of Xing.

Remote work losing importance

Asked which criteria had gained importance over the past five years, 62 per cent of respondents cited salary. More than half (53 per cent) felt that they are paid appropriately. However, inflation and the rising cost of living are sending the issue of salaries higher up the agenda. Around 43 per cent believe they earn too little and around half (51 per cent) of this group are very or somewhat willing to change employers for a higher salary, especially 18 to 29-year-olds (60 per cent). More responsibility and tasks were the second most common motive (38 per cent) for changing jobs followed closely by indications that their own status had changed due to the shortage of skilled labour (34 per cent). Around 69 per cent of respondents said a future employer should definitely offer long-term job security. Only 43 per cent of respondents expressed a wish to work remotely, which indicates that this possibility has become significantly less important.

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