Changing jobs has been the subject of discussion in recent years, with a lot of people looking to switch careers since the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] Employees Plan on Switching Jobs Post-COVID https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/03/09/majority-of-workers-who-quit-a-job-in-2021-cite-low-pay-no-opportunities-for-advancement-feeling-disrespected/ But how often do people typically stay in the same role, and does this figure change depending on who you are and what kind of industry you work in?
We’ve analyzed some interesting statistics relating to how often people change jobs, and why some people decide to make the switch.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the median number of years salaried and waged workers had been with their employer was 4.1 years. The figure for men was slightly higher at 4.3 years, while it was 3.9 years for women. The median figure increased steadily from 1983 to 2014 and then dropped slightly up to 2020.
Below we can see a breakdown of how median employee tenure has changed over time. From 1983 to 2020, the median employee tenure for all workers increased by 20.5% from 3.4 years to 4.1 years. It’s possible that this percentage increase is related to older people retiring later and staying at the same company for longer until they retire.
| Date | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2020 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 3.9 |
| Jan 2018 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.0 |
| Jan 2016 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.0 |
| Jan 2014 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.5 |
| Jan 2012 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| Jan 2010 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.2 |
| Jan 2008 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.9 |
| Jan 2006 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| Jan 2004 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.8 |
| Jan 2002 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.4 |
| Feb 2000 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.3 |
| Feb 1998 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.4 |
| Feb 1996 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Jan 1991 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.2 |
| Jan 1987 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Jan 1983 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.1 |
Source [2] BLS Median Tenure Report https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2020/median-tenure-with-current-employer-was-4-point-1-years-in-january-2020.htm
Different demographics see different results when it comes to the length of time people spend with the same employer. Let’s take a look at some of these job change statistics broken down by gender, age and race.
As we mentioned earlier, job change statistics varied slightly between men and women, with men staying at the same job longer than women.
When looking at median employee tenure (the point at which half of all workers had more tenure and half had less tenure), there were some interesting differences when comparing age groups.
From the data below, we can see that as age increases, so does the median amount of time a person spends with the same employer. In 2020, those aged 65 and over had spent a median of 10.3 years with the same employer. In the 25-34 age group, people spend a median of 2.8 years with the same employer.
We’ve looked at the data from the BLS on the difference in employee tenure. But separate from this, what might be the reason for different age groups spending different amounts of time at a job?
Another recent report showed that millennials are more than three times as likely to have changed jobs in the past year when compared to non-millennials. Almost two-thirds (60%) of millennials said they were open to new job opportunities, as opposed to 45% of non-millennials who said the same. [3] Millennials Job Hopping Generation https://www.gallup.com/workplace/231587/millennials-job-hopping-generation.aspx
Over the 10 years between 2010 and 2020, median employee tenure stayed relatively stable in all age groups. The largest increase was in the 65 and over age group, which went from 9.9 years to 10.3 years, an increase of 4%.
All age groups between 18 and 64 saw a decrease in median tenure over this 10 year period. The largest percentage decrease was in 18-19-year-olds whose median tenure decreased from 1 year to 0.8 years (a 20% decrease).
| Age | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 16 to 17 years | 2010 0.7 | 2012 0.7 | 2014 0.7 | 2016 0.6 | 2018 0.6 | 2020 0.7 | % change 0.0% |
| Age 18 to 19 years | 2010 1.0 | 2012 0.8 | 2014 0.8 | 2016 0.8 | 2018 0.8 | 2020 0.8 | % change -20.0% |
| Age 20 to 24 years | 2010 1.5 | 2012 1.3 | 2014 1.3 | 2016 1.3 | 2018 1.2 | 2020 1.3 | % change -13.3% |
| Age 25 to 34 years | 2010 3.1 | 2012 3.2 | 2014 3.0 | 2016 2.8 | 2018 2.8 | 2020 2.8 | % change -9.7% |
| Age 35 to 44 years | 2010 5.1 | 2012 5.3 | 2014 5.2 | 2016 4.9 | 2018 4.9 | 2020 4.9 | % change -3.9% |
| Age 45 to 54 years | 2010 7.8 | 2012 7.8 | 2014 7.9 | 2016 7.9 | 2018 7.6 | 2020 7.5 | % change -3.8% |
| Age 55 to 64 years | 2010 10.0 | 2012 10.3 | 2014 10.4 | 2016 10.1 | 2018 10.1 | 2020 9.9 | % change -1.0% |
| Age 65 years and over | 2010 9.9 | 2012 10.3 | 2014 10.3 | 2016 10.3 | 2018 10.2 | 2020 10.3 | % change 4.0% |
Source [4] BLS Employee Tenure Summary https://www.bls.gov/news.release/tenure.nr0.htm
Statistics from The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that from the major race and ethnicity groups, 29% of white people had been with their current employer for at least 10 years. This was higher compared with those of Asian ethnicity at 26%, Black people at 23%, and Hispanics at 22%. [4] BLS Employee Tenure Summary https://www.bls.gov/news.release/tenure.nr0.htm
The longer employee tenure among white people can be partly explained by the fact that white salary and hourly wage workers tend to be older. Around a quarter (23%) of white workers were aged 55 or older, compared with 19% of Black people, 19% of Asians, and 15% of Hispanics being 55 or over.
The type of work someone does also has an effect on how long they’ll stay in the same job. Taking data from major occupations in the U.S.:
| Occupation | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | % change from 2010 to 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation Total, 16 years and over | 2010 4.4 | 2012 4.6 | 20144.6 | 20164.2 | 20184.2 | 20204.1 | 2022-6.8% |
| Occupation Management, professional, and related | 2010 5.2 | 2012 5.5 | 20145.7 | 20165.1 | 20185.0 | 20204.9 | 2022-5.8% |
| Occupation Management, business, and financial operations | 2010 5.4 | 2012 5.9 | 20146.3 | 20165.5 | 20185.5 | 20205.3 | 2022-1.9% |
| Occupation Management | 2010 6.1 | 2012 6.3 | 20146.9 | 20166.3 | 20186.4 | 20205.8 | 2022-4.9% |
| Occupation Business and financial operations | 2010 4.6 | 2012 5.2 | 20145.0 | 20164.6 | 20184.5 | 20204.7 | 20222.2% |
| Occupation Professional and related | 2010 5.0 | 2012 5.4 | 20145.3 | 20164.9 | 20184.7 | 20204.6 | 2022-8.0% |
| Occupation Computer and mathematical | 2010 4.8 | 2012 4.8 | 20145.0 | 20164.4 | 20184.3 | 20203.9 | 2022-18.8% |
| Occupation Architecture and engineering | 2010 5.7 | 2012 7.0 | 20146.4 | 20165.5 | 20185.7 | 20205.1 | 2022-10.5% |
| Occupation Life, physical, and social science | 2010 4.6 | 2012 5.3 | 20145.0 | 20164.9 | 20184.8 | 20204.1 | 2022-10.9% |
| Occupation Community and social service | 2010 4.6 | 2012 5.0 | 20145.1 | 20164.3 | 20184.6 | 20204.6 | 20220.0% |
| Occupation Legal | 2010 4.6 | 2012 5.4 | 20145.4 | 20165.5 | 20185.1 | 20205.8 | 202226.1% |
| Occupation Education, training, and library | 2010 5.6 | 2012 5.9 | 20146.2 | 20165.3 | 20185.1 | 20205.0 | 2022-10.7% |
| Occupation Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media | 2010 3.9 | 2012 4.2 | 20143.4 | 20163.8 | 20183.9 | 20203.4 | 2022-12.8% |
| Occupation Healthcare practitioners and technical | 2010 4.8 | 2012 5.2 | 20145.2 | 20164.8 | 20184.3 | 20204.7 | 2022-2.1% |
| Occupation Service | 2010 3.1 | 2012 3.2 | 20143.3 | 20162.9 | 20182.9 | 20202.9 | 2022-6.5% |
| Occupation Healthcare support | 2010 3.3 | 2012 3.3 | 20143.5 | 20163.1 | 20183.0 | 20202.8 | 2022-15.2% |
| Occupation Protective service | 2010 5.0 | 2012 6.4 | 20146.5 | 20166.2 | 20185.0 | 20205.3 | 20226.0% |
| Occupation Food preparation and serving | 2010 2.3 | 2012 2.3 | 20142.2 | 20161.9 | 20181.9 | 20201.9 | 2022-17.4% |
| Occupation Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance | 2010 4.1 | 2012 4.0 | 20144.3 | 20163.8 | 20184.1 | 20204.0 | 2022-2.4% |
| Occupation Personal care and service | 2010 2.9 | 2012 3.0 | 20142.9 | 20162.9 | 20183.0 | 20203.1 | 20226.9% |
| Occupation Sales and office | 2010 4.1 | 2012 4.2 | 20144.0 | 20163.5 | 20183.5 | 20203.7 | 2022-9.8% |
| Occupation Sales and related | 2010 3.4 | 2012 3.4 | 20143.4 | 20163.1 | 20183.2 | 20203.3 | 2022-2.9% |
| Occupation Office and administrative support | 2010 4.7 | 2012 4.8 | 20144.6 | 20164.0 | 20183.8 | 20204.1 | 2022-12.8% |
| Occupation Natural resources, construction, and maintenance | 2010 4.7 | 2012 4.7 | 20144.4 | 20164.5 | 20184.5 | 20204.2 | 2022-10.6% |
| Occupation Farming, fishing, and forestry | 2010 4.2 | 2012 3.9 | 20143.2 | 20164.1 | 20184.0 | 20203.5 | 2022-16.7% |
| Occupation Construction and extraction | 2010 4.1 | 2012 4.3 | 20143.7 | 20164.2 | 20184.2 | 20204.0 | 2022-2.4% |
| Occupation Installation, maintenance, and repair | 2010 5.7 | 2012 5.3 | 20145.4 | 20165.2 | 20185.1 | 20204.7 | 2022-17.5% |
| Occupation Production, transportation, and material moving | 2010 4.6 | 2012 4.8 | 20144.5 | 20164.3 | 20184.0 | 20203.8 | 2022-17.4% |
| Occupation Production | 2010 5.3 | 2012 5.3 | 20145.2 | 20164.7 | 20184.4 | 20204.9 | 2022-7.5% |
| Occupation Transportation and material moving | 2010 4.0 | 2012 4.3 | 20143.8 | 20163.9 | 20183.5 | 20203.3 | 2022-17.5% |
Source [4] BLS Employee Tenure Summary https://www.bls.gov/news.release/tenure.nr0.htm
When looking at the percentage change in tenure from 2010 to 2020, the median tenure for most occupations has decreased during this time. The only professions which increased in tenure were business and financial operations (2.2%), protective services (6%), personal care and services (6.9%), and legal occupations with a sizable 26.1% increase.
Job change statistics level of education show that people educated to less than a highschool diploma level had a lower median tenure at 4.6 years. The highest median tenure came from people with a doctoral or professional degree, with 5.5 years.
When factoring in age groups, people aged 65 and over with a doctoral or professional degree had the longest tenure at 14.7 years spent with the same employer.
| Total | 25 to 34 years | 35 to 44 years | 45 to 54 years | 55 to 64 years | 65 years and over | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education level Total | Total 4.9 | 25 to 34 years 2.8 | 34 to 44 years 4.9 | 45 to 54 years 7.5 | 55 to 64 years 9.9 | 65 years and over 10.3 |
| Education level Less than a high school diploma | Total 4.6 | 25 to 34 years 2.7 | 34 to 44 years 4.3 | 45 to 54 years 5.3 | 55 to 64 years 7.4 | 65 years and over 9.6 |
| Education level High school graduates, no college | Total 5.0 | 25 to 34 years 2.8 | 34 to 44 years 4.7 | 45 to 54 years 6.7 | 55 to 64 years 10.2 | 65 years and over 10.3 |
| Education level Some college, no degree | Total 4.7 | 25 to 34 years 2.7 | 34 to 44 years 4.8 | 45 to 54 years 6.9 | 55 to 64 years 9.8 | 65 years and over 10.1 |
| Education level Associate degree | Total 5.0 | 25 to 34 years 2.9 | 34 to 44 years 4.7 | 45 to 54 years 7.4 | 55 to 64 years 10.4 | 65 years and over 10.2 |
| Education level College graduates | Total 5.0 | 25 to 34 years 2.8 | 34 to 44 years 5.2 | 45 to 54 years 8.7 | 55 to 64 years 9.7 | 65 years and over 10.8 |
| Education level Bachelor's degree only | Total 4.8 | 25 to 34 years 2.9 | 34 to 44 years 5.2 | 45 to 54 years 8.0 | 55 to 64 years 9.4 | 65 years and over 10.1 |
| Education level Master's degree | Total 5.4 | 25 to 34 years 3.0 | 34 to 44 years 5.2 | 45 to 54 years 9.1 | 55 to 64 years 10.2 | 65 years and over 10.9 |
| Education level Doctoral or professional degree | Total 5.5 | 25 to 34 years 2.0 | 34 to 44 years 5.1 | 45 to 54 years 10.7 | 55 to 64 years 10.3 | 65 years and over 14.7 |
Source [4] BLS Employee Tenure Summary https://www.bls.gov/news.release/tenure.nr0.htm
Taking the data above from everyone aged 25 and over, we can see that those with the highest levels of education, a Master’s degree or a Doctoral degree, have the highest median employee tenure.
A study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the average person has around 12 jobs in their lifetime.
The average person will change careers 5-7 times throughout their working life according to the U.S. Department of Labor, and roughly 30% of the total workforce will change jobs every 12 months.
A survey from Harris Poll found that roughly 50% of employed Americans are considering changing their career. One in four (41%) of those are looking for more flexible or remote work, 39% wanted a higher salary or promotion, and 33% wanted to change industries completely. 22% of the people asked said they wanted to quit their job and start their own business. [5] CNBC - Career Change Survey https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/12/why-50percent-of-workers-want-to-make-a-career-change-new-survey.html
One of the main reasons people said they wanted to change jobs was that they felt their employer didn’t care about their concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Many working parents also said their employer didn’t understand them or provide them with any empathy. [5] CNBC - Career Change Survey https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/12/why-50percent-of-workers-want-to-make-a-career-change-new-survey.html
Many workers have been involved in the so-called ‘Great Resignation’ which has seen record highs in workers quitting their jobs, with 4.53 million Americans quitting in November 2021. [6] The Great Resignation https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/the-great-resignation-in-numbers-record/ With a change in work culture and flexibility due to the pandemic, many workers will no longer put up with the working conditions or pay they accepted pre-COVID.
A lot of people choose to switch jobs more frequently because they end up getting a higher salary over time than they would by staying with the same employer.
According to research from the career planning site, Zippia, the average salary increase for someone who changes jobs is 14.8%, compared with a 5.8% average salary increase for workers who stay in the same job. [7] Average Salary Increase When Changing Jobs https://www.zippia.com/advice/average-salary-increase-when-changing-jobs/
The U.S. Department of Labor reported that inflation grew by 7% from December 2020 to December 2021, but average hourly wages only increased by 4.7%. [8] Inflation and Wage Rises https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/12/higher-pay-eclipses-inflation-bite-for-some-.html This means, on average, American workers received a pay cut of more than 2% when compared with inflation rates.
With wage growth lagging behind inflation, it’s no surprise that workers are looking to move jobs in search of a significant salary boost.
The gap between job ‘switchers’ and job ‘stayers’ has increased in recent months. In November 2021, the 12-month moving average of wage gains for people who switched jobs was 4.3%, compared to 3.2% for those who stayed in the same job.
This showed a wider gap in comparison to June 2021, when switchers had an average of 3.8% growth, and stayers had 3.1% growth. [9] Atlanta Federal Reserve Wage Growth Tracker https://www.atlantafed.org/chcs/wage-growth-tracker
So, what are some of the other key reasons people choose to leave their job in search of a new role? Career Plug surveyed 500 workers [10] Reasons Why Employees Quit https://www.careerplug.com/blog/reasons-employees-quit/ to determine some of the main reasons people decide to leave their job. When asked why they are dissatisfied with their current position, workers gave the following reasons:
For those looking to make a career change, it can be difficult to know what industry to go into. There are some skills in demand that may appeal to employers over the coming months and years. Below are the 20 professions with the highest predicted percentage increase in employment between 2020 and 2030.
| Occupation | Growth Rate |
|---|---|
| Motion picture projectionists | 70% |
| Wind turbine service technicians | 68% |
| Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers | 62% |
| Nurse practitioners | 52% |
| Solar photovoltaic installers | 52% |
| Cooks | 49% |
| Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes | 46% |
| Costume attendants | 44% |
| Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors | 39% |
| Model makers, wood | 39% |
| Athletes and sports competitors | 38% |
| Makeup artists, theatrical and performance | 37% |
| Occupational therapy assistants | 36% |
| Statisticians | 35% |
| Entertainment attendants and related workers | 35% |
| Physical therapist assistants | 35% |
| Animal caretakers | 34% |
| Miscellaneous entertainers and performers, sports and related workers | 34% |
| Information security analysts | 33% |
| Film and video editors | 33% |
Source [11] BLS Fastest Growing Jobs https://www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm
We used the latest data from The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to assess the differences in employee tenure for different groups and to analyze the reasons for these differences and the changes over time.
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