Great Resignation? Workers worry but keen to move on

Survey shows Australian workers are concerned about economic security but are still actively looking for new jobs.

Office workers in Sydney. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas.

Australian workers are worried about economic security but many are still keen to switch jobs in the next 18 months, suggesting the Great Resignation remains a challenge for employers.

A survey of 1000 workers across the country released on Wednesday found only 15 per cent feel the economy was secure, 20 per cent say they are not working enough hours to meet their cost-of-living needs, and almost 80 per cent believe global conflict will have a negative impact on the local economy.

The survey, run every quarter for ELMO Software, also found 44 per cent of workers plan to actively search for a new job this year.

It says employers should expect more resignations and career changes because one third of workers believe they will only stay with their current company for up to 18 months. About 22 per cent say they will stay up to 12 months, and eight per cent say they will be gone in the next six months.

The survey also reports burnout is high at 46 per cent, up from 34 per cent at the same time last year: 32 per cent of workers feel overwhelmed by their workloads and 24 per cent say they have taken on more responsibility at work.

While workers feel economically insecure, about 50 per cent rate their jobs as secure, slightly lower than the 55 per cent a year ago but a little higher than the 49 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2021. The report says global conflicts may be contributing to the concerns about economic security with four in five Australian workers stating global conflict will have a negative impact.

The ELMO Employee Sentiment Index is commissioned by ELMO Software and conducted by Lonergan Research.