If I surveyed my friends I bet many of them would say they don’t love their jobs, and more significantly, their careers. And undoubtedly the recession has had an impact on the job satisfaction level of the overall workforce as many people have had to stay longer in their current position because opportunity and mobility is sparse or unavailable.
Much of the focus over the past few years, and rightfully so, has been on the staggering number of people out of work and unable to find jobs. In fact, soon there could be a crisis as unemployment checks begin to expire next month and many people once considered part of the middle class drop into levels of poverty.
However another repercussion of our faltering economy has been the impact it’s had on people with jobs. Granted you might say they are lucky to have employment and a steady paycheck when so many have struggled with immense stress and instability, but there are challenges to be faced with a job as well.
A career is an ever changing evolution in one’s life however when organizations are faltering and ceasing to hire new or different employees, it makes changing jobs or figuring out a new career very difficult. Over the past two years, many people have had to resign to staying in their current job for longer than anticipated. And as a result are dealing with a growing sense of unhappiness and stress being stuck in a position they dislike.
No one likes feeling trapped in a job but prior to the recession there was a general feeling that if you felt restless, wanted a new challenge, disliked your boss or were in a terrible situation you could eventually find a new position within a reasonable timeframe. Unfortunately that has changed drastically. As a result, millions of people are settling for less opportunity, less money and less mobility because they have to accept just being lucky to have a job in the first place, and put the desire for more on the back burner.
As the recession starts to hopefully slow down, an entourage of people may be considering how they can jump ship from their current job and seek a new position. In fact, there is heightened speculation that the year ahead may bring about a renewed war for talent making the job market even more competitive and complex. Many people have waited patiently for the bad economy to subside and are anxiously ready to pounce on the few jobs that exist out there.
To gauge this impending movement in the workforce, it’s interesting to look at whether American workers love what they do or are they looking for change?
According to the annual online Valentine’s Day American Workplace Insights Survey from Adecco Group North America, attitudes have shifted from a year ago as fewer U.S. workers love their job just as much or more now than they did in 2009. Further, only 39% feel the economic situation has caused them to appreciate their jobs more, which is a significant dip from a year ago, and workers’ acceptance to work harder to avoid layoffs and willingness to work longer hours has faded.
Additional survey findings show that Generation Y workers are especially feeling restless about the instability of their job and love their job less than a year ago. This is no surprise since Gen Y workers typically have a strong need for growth and crave challenge. And many are in entry level positions which may not provide them with the skill development they desire.
For Generation X workers, who have been working longer and are more established in their careers, many would do their career over again if given the chance. However unfortunately this economy has made changing careers even more difficult as employers can be pickier about who they hire and demand certain backgrounds to fit their needs.
Given these findings, and from my own conversations with friends, it’s clear there are a lot of restless people out there. And how that will translate into a job market on life support fighting to recuperate means that many people may not be able to have the job change they desire for even longer.
I think everyone can relate to this somehow because even if you are happy in your current position, eventually there will come a time when you want upward mobility, different responsibilities, more money or perhaps an entirely new career altogether. Unfortunately though this economy is making reaching goals even tougher, and people must exercise their creativity and test their persistence to secure the professional opportunities they desire.
1942 - Journalist Charlayne Hunter was born this day in Due West, South Carolina.
1902 – Marian Anderson, world-renowned opera singer, is born in Philadelphia, PA.
1990 – Philip Emeagwali awarded the Gordon Bell Prize (computing’s Nobel Prize) for solving one of the twenty most difficult problems in the computing field. Emeagwali is also the creator of what is now known as the Internet.
1984 – Musician and entertainer Michael Jackson wins eight Grammy Awards. His album, “Thriller”, broke all sales records to-date, and remains one of the top-grossing albums of all time.
1932 – Richard Spikes invented/patented automatic gear shift.
