Forty Percent of Workers Looking for a New Job in '04

Topping the laundry list of reasons to be looking, 39% of workers reportdissatisfaction with opportunities for career advancement at their current jobs with 82% stating they did not receive a promotion in 2003. This was followed by nearly a quarter of workers ( 24%) who say they are generally dissatisfied with their jobs, according to a survey conducted by CareerBuilder.com.

Even though dissatisfaction numbers are lower than last year’s 29%, the number of workers on the prowl for a new career opportunity is on the rise. Only 35% of workers participating in a similar poll at the start of 2003 indicated their desire to strike out on the job change path (See Survey Sees 2003 Job-Changing Upswing ), compared with the 40% this year.

The number of eager job switch beavers is tempered somewhat when noting the survey was conducted by CareerBuilder.com, an online source for all things career-change oriented. CareerBuilder’s numbers were tame though when compared to online job search site Monster.com, which found 61% of workers were looking for a new job in the new year (See Career Changes Top New Year’s Resolutions ).

One reason for dissatisfaction with their current jobs may be in the compensation department. Six out of 10 polled workers say they did not receive a bonus in 2003 and four out of 10 say their did not receive a salary increase. Of those that did get a merit increase, the majority says the bump was of 5% of less. Not surprising then, 45% of say that amount did not meet their expectations and for these workers, 46% plan to change jobs next year.

Promotion opportunities, or the lack thereof, also figured prominently in the decision to seek employment elsewhere, said Matt Ferguson, president and COO of CareerBuilder.com. “Workers plan to capitalize on an improved economy and seek out opportunities that will increase pay scales and propel their careers forward. After enduring layoffs, heavier workloads and postponed raises, workers expect to be compensated fairly and competitively with salary increases, bonuses or promotions.”

Company Hiring Plans

Good news for job seekers though is that hiring managers polled by CareerBuilder.com have plans to add to headcount in the new year.Thirty-two percent of hiring managers will recruit to expand operations, improve customer service or support the launch of new products and services while 52% will be replacing workers who have left voluntarily or were laid off, CareerBuilder.com says based on the results of 400 hiring managers.

Finding the right people can be challenging. Although 56% of hiring managers are currently filling open positions in 30 days or less and 30% are filling them in 14 days or less, a significant amount are having trouble zeroing in on relevant candidates.

Not surprising, hiring managers are keying on a candidate’s experience. For almost four out 10 hiring managers, it is the appropriateness of the candidate’s experience that is the most important factor influencing their hiring decisions. Hiring managers also regard the demonstration of professional behavior during the selection process (17%) and the level of enthusiasm showed by the candidate for the job opportunity (12%) as important factors.

The CareerBuilder.com survey, “Plans for 2004,” was conducted online from October 18 to December 4, 2003 of more than 1,900 survey respondents, including hourly and salaried workers.