I happened to see this article Americans Are Quitting Their Jobs At The Highest Rate In 5 Years and could not resist giving it a read. Considering that I just left a steady part-time job to focus more time and effort on my freelance consultant work, I was interested to hear why others may be leaving their jobs, particularly during a time when workers have been holding onto their jobs for dear life.
The article seems to indicate that workers are getting tired of their jobs, being taken advantage of, and settling for the subpar in fear of being without work. The thought is that at least some of these employees are quitting their jobs in favor of striking out on their own, whether as a freelancer, consultant or entrepreneur—in other words, self-employment.
At first this possibility presented some concerns as I imagined a market flooded with competition, similar to what has happened with the job market. But this renewed worker confidence can be a positive both for individuals and the employee base as a whole.
Fewer workers in the job market means improved chances for job seekers. Since employee satisfaction has been lacking in the last few years, the move to self-employment can provide a happier and more productive workforce. These changes will mean that employers will have to start treating employees as a more valuable commodity than they have as of late. If employers know that workers can leave to find better employment, whether with another organization or on their own, power will be shifted back to the employee. In my opinion, this is a move in the right direction in regards to worker’s rights, employee satisfaction, the job market, and the overall economy.
If you have been held hostage in a job that is less than ideal, this renewed confidence in the American job market may be the push that you need to check into a position at a new company, in a new field, or in your own business endeavor. In particular, this move to strike out on their own can lead to increased satisfaction for workers, as they leave behind the negatives regarding traditional employment to enjoy more of the positives. For more information on working for yourself, check out this recent blog post What It Takes to Work for Yourself.
What do you think about this recent data that shows that Americans are ditching their current jobs? Do you feel that this trend is of a positive or negative nature? What do you think that this development means? Please comment below and share your thoughts on this change in the job market.
