WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., March 14, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- U.S. workers have had a median of four employers in their careers, according to a national telephone survey of 1,015 Americans sponsored by global outplacement and career services firm Lee Hecht Harrison. "It's been many years since people expected lifetime employment with a single company, but this gives us a snapshot of just how career mobile today's employees are," said firm Executive Vice President Bernadette Kenny.
Number of Different Employers by Age Group:
18-34 - Median 4.0/Mean 4.53
35-44 - Median 5.0/Mean 5.37
45-54 - Median 4.0/Mean 5.99
55-54 - Median 3.0/Mean 5.08
65+ - Median 3.0/Mean 4.76
Kenny said the evolution of this trend in the past two decades is evident from the fact that 35-54 year-olds average more employers than those 55 and over. "Furthermore, those 18-35 are close behind and are on track to far eclipse their predecessors in the number of companies they work for before they retire."
Kenny noted the age differences hold up whether one looks at the median or mean number of employers respondents have had. She said, however, that the median (midpoint of responses) is probably more reliable because the mean (average of responses) can be affected by a handful of people who have done excessive job-hopping.
Looking at salary, there were not significant differences, observed Kenny. "Lower-wage employees change jobs just slightly more frequently than those in higher paying posts."
Number of Different Employers by Household Income Level:
Under $15K - Median 4.0/Mean 5.54
$15-24.9K - Median 5.0/Mean 5.50
$25K-39.9K - Median 4.0/Mean 5.55
$40K-49.9K - Median 4.0/Mean 4.92
$50+K - Median 4.0/Mean 4.69
Kenny suspects this similarity is related to the factors that lead people to change employers. "Layoffs, mergers, restructurings, shattered loyalty, more lucrative opportunities and new challenges: the reasons are the same regardless of a person's salary level."
The EXCEL National Telephone Omnibus Survey of 1,015 Americans was conducted for Lee Hecht Harrison by International Communications Research, Media, PA.
Lee Hecht Harrison, which is a subsidiary of Adecco, the world's largest staffing company, was established in 1974 and has offices worldwide. The firm provides a full range of career services including executive and group outplacement, large project work, executive coaching, career development programs and workforce consulting services. For more information about the firm and its recent research on HR topics, please visit Lee Hecht Harrison's Web site at www.lhh.com.
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CONTACT: Lee Hecht Harrison
Laura Morrison, Vice President
(212) 206-0033
Bernadette Kenny, Executive Vice President
Lee Hecht Harrison
(201) 782-3703