69 Percent of Full-Time Workers Regularly Search for New Jobs: Study

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Having instant access to so many digital resources has turned today’s workers into perpetual job seekers, according to a recent study by CareerBuilder and Inavero. Sixty-nine percent of full-time workers reported that searching for new job opportunities is part of their regular routine. Thirty percent said job searching is a weekly activity. The survey included 1,078 full-time workers across industries and company sizes in the U.S. and Canada.

“Digital behavior has blurred the distinction between an active and a passive job candidate,” said Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America. “The majority of workers are regularly exposed to new job opportunities and are willing to consider them. They may not leave their jobs right away, but they’re keeping aware of possibilities and planning for their next career move.”

In addition to heightened awareness about job openings, the ongoing pursuit of other positions is also driven by the perception of the overall work experience. Fifty-three percent of workers said they feel like they just have a job, not a career.*

Millennials Vs. Baby Boomers

Comparing age groups, Millennials are much more likely to seek greener pastures than seasoned workers. Seventy-nine percent of Millennials actively search for or are open to new jobs compared to 67 percent of Baby Boomers. Baby Boomers tend to stay in a position for eleven years on average while Millennials typically stay for three years.

How Workers Shop for Jobs

Workers often utilize more resources in job hunting than in some other activities that impact their households. On average, workers reported they use approximately 15 sources when searching for a job. This compares to an average of 12 sources for researching insurance providers, 11 sources for researching banks and 10 sources for researching vacations.

“Workers approach their job search much like a consumer purchase, using multiple avenues to evaluate potential employers months before they take action and apply to positions,” Rasmussen added. “It’s important for companies to engage candidates at every touch point.”

The majority of workers primarily come across new jobs in three ways:

Online search – 74 percent

Traditional networking – 68 percent

Job boards – 67 percent

Once they’ve discovered job openings, they’ll check out social media and company Web sites and conduct general searches to dig deeper into the company’s culture, market standing and new developments. Prior to applying: