38% of U.S. workers plan job search in early 2026: Robert Half survey
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — New research from global talent solutions firm Robert Half reveals a significant surge in employee restlessness, with 38% of the United States workers planning to seek a new job in early 2026.
The survey, which encompasses responses from over 2,000 employed workers and 450 unemployed job seekers, indicates this figure marks a sharp increase from 29% a year ago, driven by demands for better benefits, advancement, and pay.
“Many workers felt the need to stay put in 2025, but we’re beginning to see signs of a thaw as we head into the new year,” said Dawn Fay, Operational President at Robert Half.
Top motivators: Benefits, career growth, pay, burnout
The statistics highlight a post-stagnation shift in which professional development and the overall remuneration package are no longer negotiable for many members of the labor force.
The survey has shown that the most common reasons for job change are seeking better benefits (36%), a sense that the career is no longer in the current company (34%), higher wages (33%), and job burnout (24%). It is a sure way to job insecurity, and employees are concerned with long-term well-being rather than retention.
This tendency is most acute among certain high-demand and demographic groups, pointing to special problems in the employment sector. Based on the results, tech and healthcare employees (44%), Gen Z employees (42%), and working parents (42%) are the most likely to initiate a job search.
As Fay noted, “Career growth and development are back in focus, and if an employer can’t offer those opportunities, workers no longer feel compelled to stay.”
Job seekers face record competition, skills mismatch
A separate survey of unemployed job seekers revealed that 68% felt their search would take longer than their past searches, and 59% cited the number of job seekers and high levels of competition for vacancies as one of their most frustrating pain points.
“Finding the right fit can feel daunting, but having a clear plan, keeping your skills current, and tapping into your network and available tools can help you stand out,” Fay said.
This implies that the market is becoming saturated and that it is increasingly difficult to stand out among candidates.
A common issue that complicates the process is the poor alignment between job opportunities in the market and the profiles of job seekers. The main issues are finding a suitable position that aligns with work preferences (46%) and addressing a skills gap, as 37% of job seekers believe their skills do not match the available positions.
Fay also said that nowadays, a job seeker has to confront a multifaceted, noisy market, where being tactical, developing skills, and networking are crucial for overcoming challenges successfully.
The existing employee aspiration for long-term well-being is converging with a market that is becoming saturated and mis-skilled, creating a paradox. This situation will be one such paradox in the future of work, when retention and recruitment strategies will take on a different dimension.
