54% of professionals seeking new job in 2025

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 contexts of heated labor market the Robert Half Confidence Index (RCI), which shows that 54% of professionals plan to switch jobs in 2025, which represents an increase of four percentage points compared to the same period last year.   

The subsequent falls in unemployment rates, especially among qualified professionals, those from 25 years and with complete higher education, provided greater prominence to workers in their professional relationships. According to data from the third quarter Pnad, the unemployment rate for this portion of the population was 3.0% in the fourth quarter of 2024, the lowest since 2015.

“Exploring new opportunities and pursuing job satisfaction will always be seen as something positive, no doubt. However, it is necessary to have a strategic vision of the career, because professionals who frequently change jobs without convincing justifications can be misunderstood by the market. The corporate environment is evolving and, more important than the duration in each position, is to demonstrate the growth and achievements obtained in each”, advises Fernando Mantovani, director general of Robert Half for South America.

Which encourages the search for new airs

Since the end of the pandemic, especially, there has been a significant trend of professionals looking for new positions that best fit their values, goals and moments of life.

The survey also identified the motivation for the transition among those who indicated the active search for new opportunities: 69% of respondents expressed interest in changing organization, maintaining their professional area (growth of five percentage points compared to January 2024), while 31% wanted to explore a new branch, segment or career.

Main reasons for change

(Source: 30th edition of the Robert Half Trust Index)

What influences talent retention

In the view of Fernando Mantovani, to remain competitive in this scenario, the challenge is daily, and companies must invest in clear work policies, in the transparency of leadership, as well as good benefits and remuneration packages, consistent with the averages practiced by the market, which can be consulted in the Robert Half Salary Guide 2025. 

The survey also pointed out the motivation of those who want to stay in the job:

Factors that favor staying in the current company (the five most voted)

(Source: 30th edition of the Robert Half Trust Index)

“The panorama is favorable for professionals tuned to the current requirements of organizations, which compete fiercely for the best talent in the market.Because human capital is the most valuable resource of a company, I suggest to leaders to adopt a strategic vision to avoid recognizing essential employees only when they are about to leave”, concludes Mantovani. 

A The 30th edition of ICRH it is the result of a survey conducted in November 2024. The survey considers the skilled workforce, composed of 1,161 workers from 25 years with complete higher education.