Most employees debating career moves

A recent study shedding light insights into employee attitudes and priorities found that found that a majority of workers are contemplating their next career move and are prioritizing wellbeing and work-life balance over skill development.

The 2025 Human Capital Employee Sentiment Study, which surveyed over 9,000 employees across 23 countries was done by Aon, a global professional services firm. It found that 60 per cent of employees are considering or planning to seek new employment within the next 12 months, indicating widespread dissatisfaction with their current jobs.

Additionally, only about one-third of employees globally feel motivated to develop new skills, particularly in AI, highlighting a lack of commitment to staying relevant with new technologies.

Demand for flexibility is on the rise, with work-life balance benefits, such as job sharing and technology-free hours, ranking third overall among employee benefits. For Gen Z employees, work-life balance programs are the second most valued benefit, just behind medical benefits.

These findings suggest that employees worldwide are reassessing their relationship with their employers and the “hustle culture” that has dominated recent years. Aon refers to this shift as the “Hustle Reset.”

“It’s a common belief that the employee trends that took hold during the ‘Great Resignation’ of 2021 and 2022 are over, but our study results show a more nuanced picture of the workforce landscape,” said Lambos Lambrou, CEO of human capital at Aon. “Employees are reevaluating their values and priorities and, as they look for their next move, prioritizing employers that will support their life outside of work.”

Aon’s study also highlighted the importance of a strong company culture in attracting and retaining top talent. Beyond competitive pay and benefits, employees seek workplaces that are “a fun place to work” and align with their personal values.

The study reveals divergent expectations regarding AI between executives and entry-level employees. About one in five (22 per cent) of founders and C-suite executives believe AI will significantly replace jobs in their field, compared to only 11 per cent of entry-level employees. Entry-level employees are also more likely to be unsure about AI’s impact on their roles.

Hybrid workers report feeling the most valued by their companies, while fully remote employees are 52 per cent more likely to feel undervalued, and office-based workers are 10 per cent more likely to feel undervalued. Forty-seven per cent of employees rank better-than-average pay and meaningful benefits as the top factor influencing their choice of employer. Aon’s Radford McLagan Compensation Database helps companies benchmark pay and benefits to remain competitive.

Nearly three-quarters (72 per cent)of employees value personalized benefits, yet only 41 per cent currently have access to a choice-based benefits system. Ineffective communication is hindering employee utilization of benefits, with only 38 per cent of employees who consider life and disability benefits important believing they have access to them.

“The results of our inaugural Human Capital Employee Sentiment Study reveal that employee expectations are shifting and the war for talent is far from over,” said Lisa Stevens, chief administrative officer for Aon.

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