Yes! The Associated Press recently reported an emerging trend in which more people quit their jobs than were laid off. Many left for new jobs. Some, who felt underappreciated or overwhelmed by the workload after downsizing left their department insufficiently staffed, simply left.
In June, the government said that the number of people quitting jobs in April was the most in more than one year, and an increase of nearly 12% since January.
A year or so ago, we witnessed a type of employment market paralysis. We were encountering candidates who resisted considering a new opportunity. Even if the employee was unhappy in their existing job situation, they were concerned about potential layoffs if their new employer came upon hard times. Employers held off on promotions and pay raises, and employees were grateful to be employed during such a tight economy.
Though expansion in the job market has been fitful, rather than consistent, the trends are clear: We are seeing companies initiate searches for multiple employees, and move purposefully toward a swift hire. During the depths of the recession, companies looked for top caliber talent at bargain prices. Even when such candidates emerged, the hiring process limped along slowly, with employers seemingly concerned about their own stability or the general feeling that they hadn’t fully exhausted the universe of candidates.
The tide has turned. Companies have accelerated the hiring process, and are indicating their need for new talent is more urgent. They are also acknowledging that the best direct marketing professionals have other options. Candidates are entertaining multiple offers, often leveraging one employer against another while choosing the opportunity with the best long-term potential.
