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The UK job market is fast-paced and ever-changing, with professionals facing a key decision: stick with one employer for the long haul or switch roles frequently for new opportunities. Both job hopping and career stability offer unique benefits, but the right choice often depends on individual goals and industry dynamics.
By exploring real data, we’ll uncover how these trends shape career paths across sectors. If you understand the trade-offs between stability and mobility, then you can make more informed and strategic decisions in today’s competitive job market.
Key observations:
The UK job market is shaped by a variety of external factors, including the aftermath of Brexit, the rise of remote work, and ongoing economic shifts. These influences have reshaped career pathways, impacting whether professionals choose to stay with one employer for the long term or switch jobs frequently in pursuit of new opportunities.
In this article, we analyse career stability and mobility across professions using data from our builder, collected between the 6th of January and the 6th of June 2024. Drawing insights from 369,846 CVs and 223,305 users, we reveal whether professionals in certain roles are more likely to stay in one position or frequently change jobs. By exploring these trends, you'll gain valuable insights into how your role and industry dynamics could shape your career decisions.
A national average work history based on our data for UK users illustrates the following trends: the overall average work experience is 98 months (approximately 8 years), with an average job count of 3. This means that, on average, UK professionals change jobs every 31.5 months (around 2.6 years) based on our combined data.
What might be the key factors influencing such changes?
While frequent job changes may appear disloyal to some, they are common among younger workers exploring career paths and building diverse skill sets. Data from the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that workers aged 16–24 are more likely to switch jobs compared to older age groups. For this demographic, job hopping is often seen as a strategic way to advance and adapt to a rapidly changing workforce.
Once seen as a lack of commitment, job changes are now widely accepted, particularly in industries where adaptability and skill diversity are key. Sectors such as technology, marketing, and creative fields often encourage professionals to acquire a broad range of experiences to stay competitive.
This trend is particularly notable among younger generations, such as Millennials and Gen Z, who are more likely to engage in job hopping. According to a Gallup report, 21% of Millennials say they have changed jobs within the past year, which is more than three times the rate of non-Millennials.
Understanding turnover rates across various industries gives insights into how job stability varies among professions. Below, we analyse industries with high, moderate, and low turnover rates based on user-provided data, highlighting the key factors driving these trends.
Examples: Director of Food and Beverage, Executive Chef, Food & Beverage Manager, Executive Sous Chef.
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Examples: Artistic Director, Costume Designer, Design Lead.
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Examples: Senior Category Manager, Business Coach, Head of Communications, Community Lead, Global Project Manager, Freelance Trainer.
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In professions with moderate stability, turnover rates are lower, but professionals still transition between roles as they pursue growth or adapt to evolving industry demands.
Examples: Product Director, Director of Operations, Technical Operations Manager, Head of Projects, Vice President of Operations.
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Examples: Lead Architect, Senior Construction Manager, Assistant Construction Manager, Construction Project Manager.
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Examples: Assistant Director of Sales, Director of Sales, Head of Supply Chain, Head of Customer Success, Commercial Director.
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Examples: Education Specialist, Supply Teaching Assistant, Business English Trainer.
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Examples: Finance Director, Senior Finance Assistant, Finance Business Partner.
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Certain fields stand out for their exceptionally low turnover rates, with professionals typically staying in one role for a couple of years.
Examples: Automobile Mechanic Assistant, Two-Wheeler Mechanic, Aviation Maintenance Technician, Metro Driver, Robotics Engineer, Java Programmer.
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Examples: Criminal Investigator, Criminologist, Senior Advocate, Court Assistant.
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Examples:State Enrolled Nurse, Dental Assistant, Nursery Helper, Hair Stylist Assistant.
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Examples: Grocery Shop Manager, Mobile Phone Shop Manager, Fruit Market Vendor, Clothes Shop Manager.
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Who tends to stay longer in their roles, and who is more likely to move frequently? Below is a breakdown of specific professions, highlighting the average number of jobs held and the length of experience.
Deciding whether to pursue career stability or change jobs depends on your professional goals, industry, and personal preferences. Certain circumstances can make one approach more beneficial than the other.
Stability is often advantageous in fields such as law, education, medicine, and other roles where trust, expertise, and long-term relationships are highly valued. Suitable professions include law, education, and medicine, where stability leads to deeper expertise and long-term financial security. To succeed, focus on roles that offer growth opportunities aligned with your long-term goals and ambitions. Building strong professional relationships and refining your expertise will also enhance job satisfaction and career resilience.
Industries like tech, creative roles, and other dynamic sectors thrive on innovation and adaptability. Frequent job changes can help professionals stay competitive, broaden their skill sets, and access exciting opportunities. You should prioritise roles that offer unique learning experiences, exposure to cutting-edge projects, or career advancement. Maintaining a clear and structured career path is key to demonstrating adaptability without seeming inconsistent.
As we mentioned earlier, the UK job market is influenced by factors such as Brexit, the rise of remote work, and evolving industry trends. Evaluate how these factors impact your field; research hiring trends, salaries, and opportunities for growth. Stay flexible and open to reskilling or transitioning into high-demand fields to identify more profitable opportunities while fostering your professional growth.
The UK job market opens up opportunities for both career stability and job hopping, each offering distinct advantages depending on individual goals and industry dynamics.
Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.
About the author
Since 2013, the LiveCareer UK team has shared the best advice to help you advance your career. Experts from our UK editorial team have written more than one hundred guides on how to write the perfect CV or cover letter.
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