60+ Career Change Statistics for 2024 [That You Didn’t Know!]

27 December 2023

12 min read

If you’re thinking of making a career change, 2024 is the year to do it.

Why, you ask?

You’ve probably already heard about The Great Resignation - with so many people leaving their jobs every month since April, the phenomenon even got its own name.

In fact, 4.4 million Americans quit their jobs in September alone.

And you know what that means, right?

Millions of job openings… or, rather, millions of career change opportunities!

So, no matter whether you hate your job or just want to try something new, now is the perfect time to make a career change.

But before you decide on a new career path and start writing your career change resume, let’s go over the latest career change statistics.

In this article, you will find out:

What Stops People From Making a Career Change
The Age of People Looking to Make a Career Change
How Many People Seek a Career Change
What Drives People to Make a Career Change
Which Career Will Have the Most Jobs in 2024 & Beyond

...and more!

60+ Career Change Statistics

#1. Stats on What Stops People From Making a Career Change

43% of workers who consider working in science, technology, engineering, and maths think they lack industry-related qualifications. Another 5% of workers are discouraged by the shortage of role models in the field. Source: NTT Data UK
32% of Britain’s working population struggle to find other fields in which they could use their current skills, and only 16% know exactly how they could transfer their skills to a different career path. Source: City & Guilds Group
A third (34%) of Britons worry about having to make a fresh start in their career, another 21% of Britain’s working population remain in their current positions due to a lack of knowledge required in other fields, and around 19% of respondents admit they don’t have enough confidence to make a career change. Source: City & Guilds Group
31% of British workers between the ages 25-34 say they don’t have enough knowledge in another field to make a career change, 41% worry about making a fresh start, 21% are concerned about retraining costs, and another 32% don’t change careers due to a lower salary in a different field. Source: City & Guilds Group
22% of workers over the age of 50 don’t believe they have the experience and skills required to work in a different field. Source: NowTeach

#2. Stats on Age of People Looking to Make a Career Change

Workers in the age group of 25-34 are more willing to learn new skills (14%) or switch their career paths to a completely different direction (14%) compared to people across all other age groups (10% and 9% respectively). Source: Aviva
Nearly 9 out of 10 (87%) people under the age of 25 plan to reconsider their current job situation and potentially change their career path in 2022. Source: Aviva
A combination of mid-career stagnation and financial stability leads most people to make a major career change at the average age of 39 years old. Source: CNBC
In Britain’s working population, the 25-34 age group is the least willing to change careers. Source: City & Guilds Group
11% of workers over the age of 50 wish to make a career change. Source: NowTeach
In a survey of older workers, 82% of respondents reported having successfully switched to a new career after the age of 45. Most older adults who made career changes later in life were successful in their new jobs. Source: American Institute for Economic Research
80% of people over the age of 45 consider a change in careers, but only 6% of them actually pursue it. Source: The Conference Board

#3. Stats on Wanting More Work Flexibility

76% of workers want to have the opportunity to work remotely and have a flexible schedule. Source: CNBC
41% of Americans intending to switch careers are looking for flexible job opportunities, such as remote work. Source: CNBC
Nearly half (48%) of workers find remote work less stressful because of its numerous benefits, including not having to dress up for work (42%), not having to drive to work (57%), and being closer to family (29%). Source: Aviva
A considerably smaller portion of workers - only 19% - find remote work more stressful, mentioning the inability to switch off (43%), the lack of a proper working space (27%), and the lack of interactions with colleagues (36%). Source: Aviva
More than half (68%) of workers in the United States think that the perfect workplace model is a combination of working remotely and working on-site. Source: Prudential
87% of American workers want to keep the option to work from home at least once a week after the pandemic is over. Source: Prudential
Only 23% of workers expect to have a say in whether and how to work from home after the pandemic subsides. Others expect their company (42%), department/region/location (15%), or their managers (15%) to make the decision. Source: CNBC|SurveyMonkey
1 in 3 people doesn’t want to work in a company that requires them to work on-site every day. Source: Prudential
18% of all workers and 34% of remote workers in the United States seek a job in which they can work remotely. Source: Prudential
In a survey of 1,000 white-collar professionals, 94% said they would benefit from work flexibility, although 30% said they feared consequences in terms of their professional growth if they chose to work remotely. The top benefits mentioned by the participants were less stress/improved mental health (43%) and better work-life balance (38%). Source: Deloitte
Regarding flexible work options, 1 in 3 say it would increase their job satisfaction and morale, and almost 30% say it would increase their overall productivity or efficiency at work. 80% of professionals agree a traditional work setting is important for advancing their career and 52% of the respondents say that leaders and managers have the greatest impact on advancing a culture of flexibility in their organization. Source: Deloitte

#4. Stats on Being Satisfied at Work

Last year, job satisfaction rocketed to a record high compared to any year in the last two decades - a whopping 56.9%. By comparison, job satisfaction was at its lowest (42.6%) in 2010. Source: The Conference Board
As of April 2021, 86% of workers are satisfied with their jobs, while just 4% are very dissatisfied. Source: CNBC|SurveyMonkey
75% of workers say they are well-paid at their current jobs, increasing job satisfaction by 1% from 2020. Out of them, 31% of men and 28% of female workers say they are very well-paid. Source: CNBC|SurveyMonkey
60% of workers say they have good or excellent opportunities to advance in their career. Source: CNBC|SurveyMonkey
83% of workers feel valued by their colleagues. Source: CNBC|SurveyMonkey
90% of workers say their work is very or somewhat meaningful, in comparison to 91% in 2020. Source: CNBC|SurveyMonkey
70.5% of fathers working remotely from home report having a positive mental state, while 79.4% say they manage to work effectively. Source: McKinsey & Company
39% of workers say diversity and inclusion have become a bigger priority in their company in 2021, and 53% of workers say it’s very important to them to work in a company that focuses on these issues. Source: CNBC|SurveyMonkey
Workers who rate their organization as doing enough or too much to address diversity and inclusion have a Workplace Happiness Index score of 75, while employees who think their workplace isn’t doing enough to address these issues have a much lower Index score of just 63. Source: CNBC|SurveyMonkey
Out of the workers who think their company isn’t doing enough in terms of diversity and inclusion, only 42% report having good or excellent opportunities to advance in their career, in contrast to 65% of workers who think their organization is putting too much effort to address diversity and inclusion issues. Source: CNBC|SurveyMonkey

#5. Stats on How Many People Seek a Career Change

Nearly 6 out of 10 (59%) middle-income American workers consider changing their careers, and 44% already have a specific plan to make the change. Source: Fast Company
13% of furloughed workers in all sectors are using the time to reskill and change careers, with 16% of them planning to work in the technology sector, 13% in retail, and another 13% in education. Source: NTT DATA UK
64% of employees furloughed in the hospitality industry and 55% of employees in the travel sector plan to change careers. Source: NTT DATA UK
17% of workers in the hospitality industry are actively training and re-skilling to change sectors, in comparison to 13% of workers in the travel industry. Source: NTT DATA UK
29% of furloughed employees in the civil service industry, 40% of such workers in the financial services industry, and 47% of those in the automotive industry are planning to make a career change. Source: NTT DATA UK
Nearly every second of American worker plans to make a career change due to the pandemic. Source: CNBC
10.8 million people in the United Kingdom intend to make their hobby a full-time career or to turn it into a source of additional income. Source: Aviva
As of March 2021, 1 in 5 workers made a recent career change, with half of them seeing these changes as a permanent step in their career. Source: Prudential

#6. Stats on What Drives People to Make a Career Change

27% of people change careers in search of a better work-life balance, making it the primary reason for a career change in 2021. 26% of employees make career changes to get a larger salary, and another 26% are looking to try something new. Source: Prudential
In 2020, the main drives to making a career change were a larger salary (39%), interest in another sector (21%), and wanting upward mobility (20%). Source: GoRemotely
41% of workers consider changing jobs because their employer ignored their distress during the pandemic. Source: CNBC
26% of workers intend to look for a job with a different employer as soon as the pandemic is over. Source: Prudential
22% of workers who plan to make a career change intend to start a personal business. Source: CNBC

#7. Stats on Wanting a Better Work-Life Balance

Wanting a better work-life balance is the top #1 drive for a career change, with 27% of people citing it as their reason for taking a different career path. Source: Prudential
72% of people looking to make a career change say that work-life balance is important in choosing a new career. Source: Statista
69% of workers want their companies to focus more on maintaining the work-life balance after the pandemic ends. Source: TotalJobs
94% of American service professionals work over 50 hours a week instead of the regular 40 hours. Source: Business News Daily
66% of American workers say they lack work-life balance, and 48% of them say they are workaholics. Source: Health Careers
Out of the people who find remote work stressful, 43% say they struggle to switch off. Source: Aviva
According to a survey of nearly 3,000 employees from eight countries, 34% said they would prefer to work 4 days per week if their pay remained the same. Full-time workers in Canada (59%), Australia (47%), and the U.S. (40%) prefer a four-day workweek. Source: Kronos/The Workforce Institute
24% of U.S. workers and 29% of Canadian workers would take a pay cut in order to work one day less per week. Source: Kronos/The Workforce Institute
Nearly half of full-time workers (45%) said that they could do their daily work in under 5 hours if they were allowed to work without interruptions. 75% said they could do it in less than 7 hours. Source: Kronos/The Workforce Institute
U.S. workers do the most overtime, with 49% of them working more than 40 hours each week. Source: Kronos/The Workforce Institute
71% of workers say that work interferes with their personal lives and 79% suffer from at least some burnout. Source: Kronos/The Workforce Institute

#8.Stats on Number of Jobs in a Lifetime

The average person holds 12.4 jobs between the ages of 18 and 54. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Women on average hold 12.1 jobs in their lifetime, while men hold 12.5 jobs. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Men with a higher education hold an average of 11.9 jobs from ages 18 to 54, while men without a high school education hold an average of 13.8 jobs between these ages. Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Women between the ages 18-54 with a higher education hold an average of 13.1 jobs, while those without a high school education hold an average of 10.0 jobs. Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Between the ages of 18 and 24, workers hold an average of 5.7 jobs. Between the ages of 45 and 52, people typically hold an average of just 1.9 jobs. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
White American workers aged 18-24 change jobs 5.9 times on average, compared to Black workers who change jobs an average of 4.8 times, and Latinos who change jobs 5.1 times on average. Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The average person will change careers 5-7 times during their working life. Approximately 30% of the total workforce will now change jobs every 12 months. Source: the U.S. Department of Labor.

#9. What is the Median Job Tenure?

The median tenure of employees in 2020 was 4 years. Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Workers between the ages of 25 and 34 typically hold a job for 2.8 years. The median job duration increases to 4.9 years by the time the worker is in the 35-44 age group. 45-54-year-old workers stay in the same job for an average of 7.6 years, while the median tenure of workers aged 55-64 is 10.1 years. Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Workers in the public sector have nearly twice the median tenure of those in the private sector, at 6.5 and 3.7 years respectively. Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Federal employees tend to keep the same job for an average of 8.2 years, while local government employees’ median tenure is 6.6 years, and that of state employees is 5.6 years. Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
In the private sector, workers in the manufacturing industry have the longest career (5.1 years on average), while those in leisure and hospitality have the shortest careers at just 2.3 years on average. Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Foodservice workers have the lowest median career duration at just 1.9 years, while employees in management and legal occupations hold their jobs the longest, both at a median tenure of 5.8 years. Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

#10. Which Career Will Have the Most Jobs in 2024 & Beyond?

One of the hardest parts of making a career change is deciding on a new career.

Need some inspiration to help you make the right choice?

Check out these 20 occupations that are expected to experience the fastest growth this decade:

Motion picture projectionists - 70% growth rate
Wind turbine service technicians - 68% growth rate
Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers - 62% growth rate
Nurse practitioners - 52% growth rate
Solar photovoltaic installers - 52% growth rate
Cooks - 49% growth rate
Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes - 46% growth rate
Costume attendants - 44% growth rate
Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors - 39% growth rate
Model makers, wood - 39% growth rate
Athletes and sports competitors - 38% growth rate
Makeup artists, theatrical and performance - 37% growth rate
Occupational therapy assistants - 36% growth rate
Statisticians - 35% growth rate
Entertainment attendants and related workers - 35% growth rate
Physical therapist assistants - 35% growth rate
Animal caretakers - 34% growth rate
Miscellaneous entertainers and performers, sports and related workers - 34% growth rate
Information security analysts - 33% growth rate
Film and video editors - 33% growth rate

And, if that’s not enough, here are the top 15 most in-demand jobs in 2024 according to LinkedIn:

Workplace Diversity Experts - 90% hiring rate growth
Frontline Ecommerce Workers - 75% hiring rate growth
Loan and Mortgage Experts - 59% hiring rate growth
Professional and Personal Coaches - 51% hiring rate growth
Digital Content Creators - 49% hiring rate growth
Data Science Specialists - 46% hiring rate growth
Business Development and Sales Professionals - 45% hiring rate growth
Health Care Supporting Staff - 34% hiring rate growth
Digital Marketing Professionals - 33% hiring rate growth
Artificial Intelligence Practitioners - 32% hiring rate growth
Nurses - 30% hiring rate growth
Specialized Engineers - 25% hiring rate growth
Mental Health Specialists - 24% hiring rate growth
User Experience (UX) Professionals - 20% hiring rate growth
Education Professionals - 20% hiring rate growth

7 Free Career Change Resources

If you’re planning to make a career change, you know how hard it can be to start over.

You’re not alone - career change statistics show that struggling to make a fresh start is one of the main reasons why many people don’t go through with their career change.

Of course, it’s even harder to start new if your last job interview was years ago.

With the right tools and information, though, it doesn’t have to be hard!

Here, we’ve compiled a list of our resources to help you transition to another career more easily:

How to Write a Resignation Letter [5+ Templates] - This useful guide contains all the tips you need to write a professional resignation letter that will help you quit your current job the right way.
The Ultimate Guide to Job Hunt - Land Your Next Job in 2024 - This comprehensive guide covers the job hunting process from defining your career goals to acing the interview to get you hired.
Career Change Resume for 2024 [9+ Examples] - Struggling to write a resume for a different position? This guide includes all the information on making an impressive career change resume that shows off your transferable skills and work experience.
Free Resume Templates - Our professional templates will help you create an effective career change resume quick and easy.
Free Cover Letter Templates - Want your cover letter to match your resume? Pick one of our 12+ templates to create an attention-grabbing cover letter that helps you land the job.
How To Find A Job In 2024 - 5 Easy Ways - Not sure how to find a new job? This guide contains 5 strategies to help you get hired.
35+ Interview Questions and Answers [Full List] - Use this guide to prepare for your job interview to make it as stress-free as possible!
80+ Job-Search Statistics You Have to Know - Want to stay up-to-date with the current job market situation? Check out these job search statistics!

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap! Now you’re up-to-date and know everything there is to know about the latest career change statistics.

Before you continue with your new job search, let’s take a look at some of the key career change statistics in 2024 again:

A lack of transferable skills and knowledge is the most common reason why people don’t make a career change.
Career change statistics show that most workers change their careers at the average age of 39.
The majority of people want to switch careers to have a better work-life balance and more job flexibility.
Despite the pandemic, job satisfaction is at a record high.
Employees are more satisfied with their jobs when they work for companies that address diversity and inclusion issues.
The average person holds around 12 jobs in their lifetime.
Nurses, digital content creators, motion picture projectionists, and workplace diversity experts are some of the most in-demand occupations in 2024 and beyond.