Inside the Mind of Today’s Job Seeker: Current Workforce Trends for 2025
At TRC Talent Solutions, we’re more than a staffing partner—we’re career builders and problem solvers. To support our clients and candidates, we know it’s essential to understand what today’s workforce is thinking and prioritizing. That’s why we launched our Q2 2025 Pulse of the Workforce Survey: to hear directly from job seekers and uncover what’s driving career decisions so far this year.
Who We Heard From
Our survey gathered insights from professionals across business services, IT, financial services, warehousing, and more. Some are actively job hunting, others are currently employed but open to new opportunities—and all shared honest feedback about what matters most in their career journeys.
What We Asked
We didn’t just want to know who’s looking—we wanted to understand why. Our questions focused on:
- Motivations for seeking new opportunities
- The impact of personal and external factors on career decisions
- What makes someone stay—or leave—a job
- Overall satisfaction with their current employer
What We Learned
1. Fewer People Are on the Move
- 78% of respondents overall said they plan to look for a new job within the next 3 months.
- 95% of currently unemployed respondents are actively job hunting.
- Among those currently employed, only 60% are open to something new. That is 26% lower than this time last year.
2. It’s Not Just About the Money
- Career advancement (53%) and dissatisfaction with pay (40%) are the top two reasons professionals are looking to make a change.
- Personal life changes are also a key driver of career moves. 36% of respondents cited that personal factors are influencing their decision to pursue a new role. This ranks just behind career growth and compensation as a top reason for considering a job change.
3. Employer Reputation Still Matters
- 76% of all respondents said they would recommend their current or most recent employer.
- Despite being in job search mode, 67% of respondents who are currently employed would still recommend their current company to others.
What This Means for Employers
The takeaway is clear: today’s workforce are looking for more than just a job. They want:
- Room to grow professionally
- Fair and competitive compensation
- Understanding and flexibility when life shifts
- A culture and leadership team they can believe in and speak highly of
How TRC Talent Solutions Helps You Stay Ahead
Our role at TRC isn’t just to fill jobs—it’s to match great talent with great opportunities in a way that drives retention and success for both parties. We use data like this to keep a finger on the pulse of the workforce and ensure we’re meeting candidates where they are—so you can build a team that’s committed, motivated, and ready to thrive.
Want a deeper dive into our 2025 findings? Check out the report here or contact us to discuss impacts to your business. We’d love to show you how TRC Talent Solutions can help you stay ahead of the curve.
