U.S. workers are increasingly prepared to change jobs or careers, according to FlexJobs’ new State of the Workplace Study, signaling elevated mobility across the labor market.
Majority Open to New Roles
FlexJobs surveyed over 4,000 U.S. professionals, and 79% said they are more likely to accept a new job than they were a year ago. At the same time, 66% reported they have changed or considered changing career fields in the past 12 months.
Among respondents, 43% are actively trying to switch fields this year, while 23% said they attempted or completed a career change over the past year.
Quitting Activity Increases
The share of workers who have recently quit or are considering quitting rose to 41%, up from 33% in the prior report. Of that group, 21% said they left a job within the past six months, and 20% said they are currently considering resigning.
Many who quit did so without another role secured.
Remote Work Leads Job Decisions
When evaluating new opportunities, 35% cited remote or flexible work as the most important factor, slightly ahead of salary and benefits at 33%. Work-life balance ranked third at 17%, followed by company culture and job security.
Outlook Remains Mixed
Despite the surge in job readiness, worker sentiment about the future remains divided. Thirty-five percent of respondents said they feel less optimistic about their career prospects than a year ago, while 32% reported feeling more optimistic and 33% said their outlook has not changed. The data points to a workforce that may be cautious about the broader economy but is nonetheless prepared to act if the right opportunity emerges.
