One in Four Quits Without Securing New Job

A Xing study conducted with Forsa investigates how the pandemic affected Germans’ willingness to change jobs. Surveying 2,523 employees (1,004 from Germany), it finds 37% are open to a new role or have started steps toward change, up four percentage points from the previous year. Since 2020, 10% of respondents have changed jobs, while four in ten are considering a move. The results emphasize the growing importance of organizational culture, leadership quality, flexible working arrangements, and personal meaning in job decisions. Key motivators for seeking change include higher salary (42%), dissatisfaction with management (38%), and dissatisfaction with direct supervisors (30%), with 31% interested in other activities and 26% citing lack of meaning. The study suggests the market is shifting from employer- to candidate-driven, impacting hiring in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and highlights the rising prominence of cultural fit and leadership in actual moves.