What to know
- 42 per cent of Gen Z workers plan to change jobs within the next six months, according to a new survey of more than 3,500 Canadian workers.
- Compensation remains the top motivator for changing jobs, with nearly half of respondents citing low pay as the biggest reason to leave, ahead of work-life balance and career growth.
- Workers still want a human touch in the hiring process, with most job seekers saying in-person interaction is essential despite the growing role of technology and social media in recruitment.
Money talks, and for a growing number of Canadian workers, it’s telling them to quit. A new survey found compensation remains the biggest motivator for employees considering a career move, with more than four in 10 Gen Z workers planning to change jobs within the next six months.
A new study from Randstad Employer Brand Research (REBR) found that many employees in Canada are prepped and ready to abandon their jobs. The survey, which consulted more than 3,500 Canadian workers, found that while a modest 23 per cent of the overall workforce in Canada has plans to change jobs, a whopping 42 per cent of Gen Z respondents are ready to change jobs in the next six months. Some of those are planning on changing jobs, but moving within the same company, with about 12 per cent of respondents indicating that this is their plan.
So, why are workers planning to change roles? Almost half (48 per cent) said that low compensation was a primary factor, while 40 per cent cited wanting to improve work-life balance, and 34 per cent said that a lack of career growth opportunities in their job was a big motivator for switching jobs.
When it came to the top priorities for workers, compensation and work-life balance were tied as the top priorities overall (66 per cent each), but the majority of employees said salary became the top priority the moment employees are forced to choose.
When it came to breaking it down by gender, 69 per cent of women said that compensation was their top factor, compared to 62 per cent of men. Meanwhile, men were more likely to be planning to change jobs, with 36 per cent of men planning to move in early 2026, compared to 30 per cent of women.
The value placed on salary actually increases with age, with 54 per cent of Gen Z rating it as the most impactful factor, compared to 77 per cent of Baby Boomers.
But money wasn’t the only thing that mattered when it came to compensation. About 80 per cent of workers said benefits that support their lifestyle, including flexibility, time off, and health and wellness were crucial.
However, despite there being a lot of people looking to make a move, 63 per cent of those surveyed said they would rate their current employer positively when it came to work-life balance.
When it came to technology in the job-seeking and hiring process, those polled were pretty against automated hiring, with 68 per cent of job seekers saying that in-person contact is non-negotiable when exploring a job. However, not all tech is bad, as social media plays a big role for people looking for jobs. On Facebook, 62 per cent of candidates land a job while only 53 per cent of people are actively using the platform to look for jobs. And when it came to finding work, human connection was also important in respondents’ experiences. While only 29 per cent of candidates use personal referrals, 27 per cent land a position through them.
