Job-hopping isn’t a red flag anymore — it’s a life strategy
A worldwide survey reveals why young workers are moving fast, learning fast, and refusing to stand still.
Karen Dias/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Not so long ago, the “grown-up” thing to do was pick a company, stay put for decades, and work your way up the same ladder. That ladder has officially been kicked over.
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A new global study from EY, based on surveys of 18-to-34-year-olds in 10 countries, shows just how much things have changed: for today’s young adults, moving around isn’t a warning sign — it’s the plan. They see switching jobs, and even industries, as the best way to build a career that works for them. And that mindset is forcing companies to rethink how they hire, manage, and keep talent.
A generation raised on a global feed
This is the first generation to grow up with constant access to everyone else’s lives. They’ve had a front-row seat to global culture, breaking news, and viral trends, all on the same screen.
Almost everyone surveyed (94%) says they’re on social media every day. But here’s the kicker: nearly half (44%) say they wish they could cut back. That tension — always connected but craving balance — shapes how they see the world, including how they think about careers.
Moving sideways instead of straight up
Instead of sticking with one company for life, 59% of young adults expect to work for two to five different employers during their career, and nearly one in five plan on six or more.
For them, job-hopping isn’t about being flaky. It’s how you collect skills, try new things, and keep your options open in a world where industries change fast.
The old résumé red flag — “short stints at too many places” — doesn’t carry the same weight anymore.
Success looks different now
The EY study also found that success isn’t just about titles and paychecks anymore.
Health and wellbeing rank at the top, with 51% of respondents saying that’s their main definition of success. Family relationships (45%) beat out both wealth (42%) and career status (41%).
Of course, financial independence still matters — 87% said it’s very or extremely important. But they see money as a tool, not a finish line.
On their own timeline
This group knows there’s no single “right” path anymore. Buying a home, building a career, or even planning retirement looks different than it did for their parents or grandparents.
And in a world where uncertainty is the norm, they’ve figured out that flexibility can be its own form of security.