Half of Canadian job seekers are looking to switch careers, either by entering a completely new industry (56%) or changing what they do within their field (47%), according to a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey that highlights a significant trend in career mobility.
The survey found more than half of job seekers (56%) have already switched careers at least once, and a majority (73%) believe it is never too late to switch. In contrast, only 16% responded that they had never switched careers and do not ever plan to.
“Interestingly, although they have been in the job market for a shorter period of time, Gen Z (57%) and Millennials (54%) are almost as likely to say they switched industries at some point in their careers as Gen X (55%) and Boomers (66%),” said the company in a news release.
“In fact, 1 in 3 of both Gen Zers (31%) and Millennials (28%) say they have already switched careers multiple times. In addition, both Gen Z (27%) and Millennials (26%) are more likely to say they are interested in switching careers than Gen X (25%) and Boomers (21%).
“The findings suggest that switching careers or switching job functions within their field is becoming more common, and companies should prepare for more employees looking to make these transitions.
“Nearly 9 in 10 job seekers (84%) would switch careers if they had the resources and three-quarters (74%) report that seeing others working in non-traditional settings (e.g., working from home) influences their desire to pursue similar opportunities.”
Photo by Moose Photos
Other common reasons among those who have switched careers or are interested in doing so include:
- Desire for more flexibility (55%)
- Lack of advancement/fulfillment (52%)
- Looking for a more positive work culture (34%)
- Inadequate compensation (33%)
- Transferring skills to faster-growing industries (27%)
- Skills better suited for another career (27%)
- Desire for more time off (24%)
Despite the desire to switch careers, most job seekers (67%) say they are less likely to do so in the near term given the current scarcity of job opportunities, said the report.
Other common barriers to switching careers are:
- Having to start over (46%)
- Accepting a lower salary due to lack of experience (31%)
- Having to go back to school or obtain new credentials (31%)
- Fewer job opportunities in the desired field (29%)
- Having to accept a lower-level position due to lack of experience (27%)
- Thinking it’s too late to change their career path (25%)
But if time, money or qualifications were not a factor, Canadian job seekers have a diverse list of sectors they would choose to work in, the most popular being:
- Arts, entertainment and recreation (13%)
- Professional, scientific and technical services (11%)
- Administrative support (8%)
- Health care and social assistance (7%)
- Education (6%)
Mario Toneguzzi
Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Podcast. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 and 2024 as one of the top business journalists in the world by PR News. He was also named by RETHINK to its global list of Top Retail Experts 2024 and 2025.
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