Career cushioning is the newest trend to emerge as professionals around the world brace for more uncertainty in 2023.
Previously, quiet quitting became a major fear for leaders as employees became comfortable doing what is expected at their jobs, rather than going above and beyond.
However, career cushioning is becoming the less-severe cousin of quiet quitting, which sees workers reskilling and upskilling on their own time, while window shopping for new positions in case they become victim to layoffs.
In fact, research shows that 53% of Australians are career cushioning by keeping up-to-date on what is required of their position, while 35% said they want to add new skills to their arsenal.
“It’s a response to this trend we are seeing globally where professionals are trying to brace themselves to counter the challenges of an economic downturn,” said Cayla Dengate, a work expert at LinkedIn.
“There is this sense of anxiety about future-proofing your role and making sure that if you don’t hang onto your job, there will be another one in the works.”
