Job hunting has been brutal for young professionals, with a sluggish hiring market, AI filters, and thousands of other competitors. But even those who managed to score a gig are finding themselves wanting to leave it.
Around 55% of Gen Z professionals plan to look for a new job before the end of this year, according to recent data from recruitment and staffing firm Robert Half. That’s a huge jump from 2025, when only 32% were on the hunt. And the opportunity to earn more is a “major factor” in their plan to switch jobs: more than half of the young professionals believe that switching employers could boost their salaries. Beyond a bigger paycheck, they’re also looking for better benefits, flexibility, and the chance to grow their careers.
“Career expectations have shifted for many younger professionals, and Gen Z tends to be especially intentional about finding roles that align with where they want to go professionally,” Dawn Fay, operational president at Robert Half, tells Fortune. “When they feel stalled or don’t see room to grow, they seem to be comfortable exploring new opportunities rather than waiting for those circumstances to change.”
It’s a striking disconnect as many workers are keeping their heads down in today’s job market. White-collar jobs are being slashed, AI is reshaping the workforce, and pay gains from job-hopping have largely fallen flat. Plus, professionals are uncertain if they’ll be able to bounce back if they get laid off. The average perceived probability of finding a job if one’s current role was lost fell to 43.1% in December 2025, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
However, Gen Zers are still gearing up to make the leap. The chance to score a bigger paycheck and workplace flexibility can still outweigh the risks of moving in a shaky job market.
Entry-level Gen Z workers are up against a tough job market
For decades, young workers have been told that job-hopping is the fastest way to scale their income. But now, Gen Zers looking to jump ship may not always see their paychecks increase much.
Workers who stayed put received a 4.6% wage bump in January and February, while those who switched gigs got a marginally higher increase of 4.8%, according to 2025 data from the Atlanta Fed. The financial opportunity gap is closing fast: the salary difference between people who stay in their jobs and those who switch hit its lowest level in 10 years.
Plus, it’s not an easy time to be job hunting. Applicants face “ghost jobs,” AI’s workforce takeover, and a sluggish hiring cycle. It’s forced some Gen Z job-seekers to apply to thousands of postings or stage elaborate stunts to get employers’ attention. The country’s lowest earners, who make less than six figures, and those without college diplomas have the lowest confidence in the job hunt right now, according to the Federal Reserve.
“Generally, workers are anxious about job security as they see prominent layoffs in the headlines and hear from their laid-off friends who are having trouble getting back into work,” Daniel Zhao, chief economist at employment site Glassdoor, told Fortune earlier this year.
“Even workers who are currently employed feel stuck in their jobs as the current job market limits their ability to find a better job and leverage to get a raise or promotion internally.”
Because of all this uncertainty, many workers are “job hugging” and safeguarding their current positions “for dear life,” according to consulting firm Korn Ferry. And it’s been an especially dire job market for Gen Zers just trying to get their careers off the ground. About 58% of college students who graduated between 2024 and 2025 were still looking for their first job, according to a report from Kickresume last May, compared to 25% of graduates in previous years.
A ZipRecruiter report also found that entry-level job postings made up just 38.6% of all postings this March—down from 44% in 2023. And as clicks per job opening rose nearly 22% year over year, job seekers face a bigger applicant pool.
That said, Gen Zers still want more from their work. For most young workers, a bigger paycheck, better benefits, career growth, and a greater sense of purpose are worth the gamble of switching jobs—even in a market where finding the next opportunity is far from guaranteed.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
