More than eight out of ten employees want to change jobs

According to a survey by Right Management of more than 1,000 employees in Canada and the U.S., 84% of workers say they plan to look for new jobs in 2012.

The survey shows that the discontent seems to be widespread, affecting all of North America. In this period of continued economic instability, the lack of trust in company management is at its highest, and the fear of not being able to advance in their current company is pushing employees to consider other options. Only 5% of respondents say they intend to stay in in their current position. This need for change is at a critical level for the second year in a row, since companies that cannot retain their employees face a host of problems (e.g. decreased productivity and motivation, lack of engagement).

Doing something about it
To counter this exodus of talent, Right Management advises managers to identify star performers and have constructive career discussions with them in order to spot reasons for possible discontent, and to propose internal solutions. This is a top priority, since high-value performers not only contribute to corporate performance, but they are also the ones most likely to find opportunities elsewhere.