Nearly half (48%) of workers aged 18 to 29 are either actively looking for a new role or plan to do so in 2026, according to Totaljobs analysis released on 12 January.

Researchers found that overall, 41% of workers are actively looking for a new role or plan to do so in 2026, down slightly from 42% in 2025.

Movement is also high among workers under 40, rising to 47% of people aged 30 to 39.

Salary remains the most important factor for workers when choosing a job, cited by 81% of candidates. For those planning to move, higher pay (51%) was stated as the main motivation for doing so.

“Pay still matters to early career workers, as does salary transparency – but it’s no longer enough on its own,” said Nicola Weatherhead, VP of people operations and talent acquisition at recruitment company The Stepstone Group.

Speaking to HR magazine, Weatherhead explained that The Stepstone Group has observed that workers who are entering employment for the first time are thinking hard about their future, and “they will only commit to organisations that show a clear commitment to them in return”.

She explained that this means visible career pathways, regular progression conversations and genuine investment in training and development.

Separate research from July 2025 by Gateway Commercial Finance, which surveyed 1,008 employees in the US, found that 58% of Gen Z professionals viewed their jobs as ‘situationships’ – short-term, low-commitment relationships not expected to last.

The study also found that 47% of those professionals planned to leave their job within a year of starting it, while nearly half said they felt ready to quit at any time.

Responding to both sets of data analysis, Cris Beswick, independent strategic advisor and author, said: “Gen Z aren’t commitment-phobic, but more commitment-sceptical.”

“They’ve watched companies optimise for short-term efficiency, while destroying the very conditions that create meaningful work,” he told HR magazine.

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