The ‘Great Stay’ era: Why Aussies are less likely to move jobs

Australians are becoming less likely to move jobs, with the rate of workers changing employment falling to under 8 per cent for the year to February 2025, according to a recent mobility report.

Andrew Dhaenens, senior lecturer in leadership and management at RMIT University, explained the external factors shaping this trend and how it can impact workplace dynamics.

“The job market is threatened by layoffs and displacement from AI, while job searching has been strained with the flood of AI-fuelled applications against a wall of ghost jobs, making for an uncomfortable time for everyone involved,” Dhaenens said.

On the point of AI, Dhaenens highlighted a notable contradiction regarding this boom.

“AI is both beneficial and destabilising at the same time. It is no doubt creating some efficiencies, [but] at the same time, it is creating a lot of uncertainty without promoting any sense of purpose or advancing some of the core societal challenges,” he said.

While artificial intelligence is no doubt increasing the efficiency of people’s roles, the drastic rise is beginning to scare people, in the sense that they are concerned about the lack of roles becoming available, due to the fear of AI replacing them.

Meanwhile, other pressing issues that are preventing people from moving jobs and expanding their talents elsewhere include the cost of moving house and just generally being able to afford regular things, such as groceries, which may be more expensive in certain areas.

“Cost-of-living pressures are making it harder for people to make lateral moves or change locations,” Dhaenens said.

Dhaenens sums it up as coming off the period of the “Great Resignation” or “Renegotiation”, concluding that we are rather entering the “Great Stay”.

“With rising living costs, a job move can be risky and costly, especially if it requires moving house,” he said.

Further, Dhaenens explained the notion surrounding “identity threats”, indicating that they are threats to how people perceive themselves in a professional environment.

“When major restructures or technology shifts occur, people lose sight of where they fit, questioning their value and purpose. People are anxious from identity threats regarding both AI and potential job losses,” he said.

Anxiety isn’t just stemming from the ever-looming threat of AI and the cost of living, but it is also arising from structural issues, according to Dhaenens.

“Rising workloads, fewer companies, constant pings for attention are causing real issues to employee wellbeing, burnout, and sense of purpose,” Dhaenens said.

Working in a toxic environment, a sense of Stockholm syndrome may sneak in, whereby people are reluctant to change jobs, as they have developed irrational loyalty to a toxic or demanding workplace, trapping them in a cycle of dread.

Additionally, people are seemingly pickier when it comes to choosing jobs, having a large focus on hybrid working conditions.

“Hybrid and flexible work are essential to helping counter some of the rising pressures that employees are experiencing,” Dhaenens said.

“People want better commutes, affordable ways to develop new skills, and local support to raise families (like daycare). We need to be tackling these challenges if we truly want to have a better future of work.”

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