Shifting Attitudes: The Decreasing Desire for Complete Career Changes Among Belgian Workers

The Belgian workforce is increasingly showing a decreased desire for a complete career change, with only one in four employees now wanting to switch jobs radically compared to four out of ten last year. This shift in attitude can be attributed to companies making efforts to provide what their employees were seeking in other jobs.

Employees may have previously wanted to change jobs due to issues such as dissatisfaction with their boss, low pay, lack of work-life balance, or lack of job satisfaction. However, the trend now shows a decrease in the desire for a complete career change, especially among those under the age of 45. The impact of the pandemic, economic uncertainty, and fear of leaving professional security behind are contributing factors to this change in mindset.

While some employees still desire a new career path, the main reasons for considering a change include improving work-life balance, increased earnings, and a desire for more social impact. Companies are also adapting to this shift by focusing on employee retention through transparency, financial well-being, flexibility, and mental and physical well-being initiatives.

According to Acerta Consult, job mobility will remain significant but mainly within the same company as companies invest in training and support to adapt to evolving job roles. Despite the downward trend in complete career changes, the importance of job mobility in the workforce is likely to continue.

This shift in attitude among Belgian workers has important implications for companies looking to retain top talent and create a positive work culture. Companies must now focus on providing their employees with opportunities for growth and development while also addressing any concerns they may have about job security or work-life balance.

Overall, while the trend towards less frequent complete career changes may be concerning for some employers, it’s important for companies to adapt and prioritize employee needs if they want to attract and retain top talent over the long term.