According to new research from a global staffing firm, more than one-quarter of professionals (27 per cent) said their career has stalled since the start of the pandemic—and that number jumps to 55 per cent for those ages 18 to 24. In a separate poll, 49 per cent of senior managers revealed that they postponed promoting top performers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and 61 per cent of those respondents worry about staff retention as a result.
How careers have taken a hit
Workers experiencing a stalled career reported feeling stuck when it comes to:
- Salary growth: 62 per cent
- Career advancement: 62 per cent
- Skills development: 42 per cent
- Ability to grow their professional network: 42 per cent
And some professionals shared that they’re ready for a career move: Twenty-eight per cent of respondents said they had a shift in perspective due to the pandemic and want to pursue a more meaningful or fulfilling job.
Along with significantly changing the hiring landscape for job seekers, the pandemic has also interfered with employees’ career trajectories, says David King, senior district president of Robert Half.
“As we look toward the future and a more active job market, now is the time for organizations to put programs in place that are designed to retain top talent. This includes specific initiatives that will appeal to younger workers and opportunities for all employees to build skills and advance their careers.”