Most employees intend to seek new jobs in 2014, poll finds

Itching for a new job? Apparently you’re not alone.

An overwhelming majority of employees intend to pursue new jobs in 2014, according to an online poll of nearly 900 workers in the U.S. and Canada.

Eighty-three percent of the workers said they will “actively seek a new position” next year, while just 5% said they had no intention of seeking a new job, according to Right Management, a career advisory firm. Another 12% said they were not sure whether they would look for new work.

“These numbers should signal a wake-up call for top management, when four out of five employees say they intend to look for employment elsewhere,” said Scott Ahlstrand, Right Management’s employee engagement leader. “Solutions to keeping the best talent on board all point to effective engagement that drives performance, satisfaction and loyalty. Employers must act now to engage top talent and prevent them from leaving for the competition.”

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Employee engagement is receiving a heightened focus as employers recognize talent is the only source of sustainable competitive advantage, Right Management said in a news release.

“Engagement, loyalty and job satisfaction should be top concerns for employers who want to keep their best talent,” Ahlstrand said. “High employee dissatisfaction has a ripple effect that can hurt the bottom line, disrupt productivity and damage morale. Successful companies cultivate and retain top talent by building loyalty through engagement that connects employees’ work contributions to concrete business outcomes.”

The number of employees who intend to seek new work has been above 80% for the last four years, after jumping from 60% in 2009, Right Management said.

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