The arrival of a new year usually brings a renewed sense of purpose, stimulating reflections and motivating people to reconsider their goals for the next cycle, especially in a heated job market context. This trend is confirmed in the latest Robert Half Confidence Index (ICRH), which reveals that 54% of professionals plan to change jobs in 2025, representing a four-percentage-point increase compared to the same period the previous year.
The consecutive drops in unemployment rates, especially among qualified professionals—those aged 25 and older with complete higher education—have given workers greater protagonism in their professional relationships. According to PNAD data from the third quarter, the unemployment rate for this segment of the population was 3.0% in the fourth quarter of 2024, the lowest since 2015.
“Exploring new opportunities and pursuing professional satisfaction will always be seen as positive, without a doubt. However, it’s essential to have a strategic career vision, as professionals who frequently change jobs without convincing justifications may be misinterpreted by the market. The corporate environment is evolving, and more important than the duration in each position is demonstrating the growth and achievements obtained at each stage,” advises Fernando Mantovani, General Director of Robert Half for South America.
What encourages the search for new horizons
Since the end of the pandemic, especially, there has been a significant trend of professionals seeking new positions that better align with their values, goals, and life stages.
The survey also identified the motivation behind the transition among those who indicated an active search for new opportunities: 69% of respondents expressed interest in changing organizations while staying in their professional field (a five-percentage-point increase compared to January 2024), while 31% wanted to explore a new industry, segment, or career.
Main reasons for changing jobs
| Changing companies | Changing fields, segments, or professions |
| Better growth opportunities | Personal fulfillment |
| Higher salary | Quality of life |
| New challenges | Higher salary |
| More attractive benefits | Learning something new |
| Better work-life balance | More flexibility |
(Source: 30th edition of the Robert Half Confidence Index)
What influences talent retention
According to Fernando Mantovani, to remain competitive in this scenario, the challenge is daily, and companies must invest in clear work policies, leadership transparency, as well as good benefits and compensation packages aligned with market averages, which can be consulted in the Robert Half 2025 Salary Guide.
The survey also highlighted the motivation of those who want to stay in their current jobs:
Factors favoring staying with the current company (top five voted)
| Benefits and compensation | 56% |
| Work model flexibility | 32% |
| Work environment and organizational culture | 32% |
| Work-life balance | 27% |
| Growth and professional development opportunities | 27% |
(Source: 30th edition of the Robert Half Confidence Index)
“The outlook is favorable for professionals aligned with the current demands of organizations, which fiercely compete for the best market talent. Given that human capital constitutes a company’s most valuable resource, I suggest leaders adopt a strategic vision to avoid recognizing essential employees only when they are about to leave,” concludes Mantovani.
The 30th edition of the ICRH is the result of a survey conducted in November 2024. The poll considers the qualified workforce, composed of 1,161 workers aged 25 and older with complete higher education. The respondents were divided into
