Two thirds of Belgians want to change job

Two-thirds of Belgian workers (64%) are considering changing employers in the next 12 months, according to HR service provider Acerta Consult and job search site Stepstone.

This is the highest proportion since 2022, when 65% of people were considering a new job.

Acerta and Stepstone surveyed 2,700 people about their intentions to change jobs in the coming year and only 36% said it was not on their mind.

An estimated 44% want to change sectors: 26% want to work in a different role, while 18% want to keep a similar role.

Approximately 15% want a new employer, but without changing career path. Four out of 10 respondents who want to change employers believe it will take them a few months to find the right fit, an increase from the survey conducted a year ago (33%).

Only 28% think that a few weeks will be enough to find a new job, compared to 32% last year.

Another finding of the study is that 28% of respondents under the age of 30 say they intend to stay with their current employer throughout their career.

The results also demonstrate the current sluggishness of the job market, with fewer respondents reporting that they are regularly approached by recruiters.

“It’s still easier to change jobs than to find work if you don't have a job yet,” said Maria Ferritto, an expert at Acerta Consult.

For a minority (5%), a need for professional renewal is accompanied by the consideration of becoming self-employed.

Several factors may explain the marked trend towards career mobility: the search for better working conditions, the quest for meaning, the desire for change or professional dissatisfaction.

“Many employees have reached the end of the road in their roles,” said Ferritto. “Or there is an imbalance between private and professional life. Or even between the objectives of the employee and the employer.”

The survey also found that 15% of respondents do not necessarily want to change jobs but would like to see new management methods, meaning employers have a role to play in the vitality of the company.

“They need to focus on sustainable careers,” Ferritto said. “They need to invest in internal development opportunities and training in order to retain their staff.”