Trend #3: The Great Resignation: New Emphasis on Engagement and Fulfillment

This article is the fifth part of a blog series that discusses our insights into major workplace and hiring trends. As you prepare for what’s next in your own career, we invite you to check out the entire series. Learn more about how these trends could positively impact your career and make it an even more rewarding experience.

The Great Resignation was the phrase initially coined to refer to a wave of resignations that saw an unprecedented 24 million workers in America alone between April and September 2021 leave positions. As employers grapple with replacing lost talent and workers ponder whether to join the resignation wave, key insights are emerging.

It’s not about the money or the title.

The old ways of retaining talent through salary and promotion promises are no longer addressing the key pain points. Employees are looking for more engagement in their work and are ready for opportunities to learn and grow.

They also want to feel more fulfilled by the work they do, the contributions they make, and the value they add. Opportunities for more challenging projects, learning new skills, networking potential, better work/life balance, and higher visibility can speak volumes louder than a pay raise.

There is no solution without honest reassessment.

For employees and employers alike, the Great Resignation has brought to the surface disconnects and false assumptions about what it takes to attract, develop, and retain the best talent. Really understand what you need to secure a position that truly motivates you, new skills needed, self-care priority, and how to create a career path that takes you where you want to go.

Don’t join the Great Regret.

If you are dissatisfied with your job, do not fall into the trap of making the leap only to land in a similar position at another company. Make a change that matters and consider whether that change is possible in your current organization. Likewise, savvy managers will listen and find creative, mutually beneficial solutions.

Interested in getting more insights like this to support your next career move? Check out the next article in the series and download our 2022 Job Market Trends to Watch report now.