Staying in one job for life is no longer a given, and it is not uncommon to switch jobs – or even careers – more than once over the course of your working life.
Nearly one in five working British Columbians are currently in the process of looking for a new job, according to a new Randstad Canada study, and – perhaps surprisingly – their number one motivation isn’t money.
The most common reason cited for seeking a switch was a perceived lack of growth opportunity in a current job, with 41% saying this was their top motivation.
That’s not to say that money doesn’t enter into the equation at all; 37% of respondents said they were looking for a new job because they feel under-compensated. This was followed by a lack of interest in a current position, at 25%.
On the other hand, there are several factors that can keep an employee from looking elsewhere. Workers who feel their jobs offer them a good work-life balance will likely be more loyal. Forty six per cent of B.C. employees cited this as their top reason for not looking elsewhere.
A previous Randstad study had found, however, that Canadian employees feel striking a good work-life balance is becoming increasingly difficult, with around half of those surveyed reporting they handle both work tasks in their private time and personal matters while working.
Thirty seven percent of respondents said would stay in their jobs if they felt their salaries were competitive.
More than one-third of those surveyed said flexible working arrangements will lead to them holding on to a job. An example of this flexibility is telecommuting. A 2013 BMO study found that 26% of companies in British Columbia offer employees the option to telecommute , which was higher than the national average of 23%.
The BMO study also found that companies who offered their workers this option felt it improved both productivity and work quality.
Not all workers are looking to switch jobs frequently. Canadians are staying in their jobs longer than ever before, according to a CIBC report published last year, with 60% of those surveyed saying they plan to stay put long-term. This is up from a low of 43% in 1993.
The most attractive aspects of a new job for British Columbians, Randstad found in its new study, were competitive salary and benefits (70%), a pleasant work atmosphere (52%) and job security (51%).
