1 in 2 employees in New Zealand considering new job: survey

More than half of employees in New Zealand revealed they are considering searching for a new job this year, driven by strong desire for career progression.

This is according to the latest survey from Robert Half, which polled 501 employees in New Zealand.

It found that 57% of are likely to look for a new job this year, while 42% are unlikely to do so.

According to the findings, 10% of employees have already begun looking for a new job since the first quarter of 2024. Another six per cent already did it in the first half, while 37% plan on doing so throughout the year.

Career progression driving exits

Limited career progression opportunities emerged as the top reason why employees are thinking of leaving, according to the report.  This reason has also been cited by all generations currently in the workforce, with Gen Zs (37%) and Millennials (36%) most likely to say it would make them consider leaving their role. 

"There is restlessness in the New Zealand workforce, with a portion of workers eyeing an exit as a result of long-term career goals not being met at their current employer and mounting cost of living pressures pushing employees to a job with higher pay," said Megan Alexander, Managing Director at Robert Half, in a statement.

"While financial compensation remains a key motivator for all employees, all generations take on a long-term view and recognise the importance of developing their skills to future-proof their career and set themselves up for promotions and continued professional growth."

Source: Robert Half

Will job switching help hike pay?

Meanwhile, uncompetitive pay emerged as the second-highest reason why employees want to leave, according to the findings.

But Alexander warned that switching employers for higher pay might not be the outcome some employees get this year.

"The era of large pay rises is over. New Zealand employers are being more conservative with their salary increases due to cost pressures on their side, so while pay is a top priority for most due to rising cost of living, professionals should reflect on whether the grass is actually greener when seeking a new role in the current market," she said.

"Today, changing jobs no longer promises a huge salary increment. Workers should seek alternatives either with their current employer or future company, exploring work-life balance benefits or career progression options that suit the need of both parties."