The landscape of career development and talent retention is evolving. As reported by the Office for National Statistics, the annual turnover for UK employees currently stands at 34%. We’re seeing professional workforces becoming increasingly transitory, changing jobs frequently in the quest for meaningful career progression – or involuntarily, due to organisational instability. 

We are also seeing HR leaders struggling to navigate the complexities of attracting and retaining top talent in an unpredictable market and manage the career development of a multi-generational workforce.

Our new insight explores what as the career aspirations of 2,000 professional employees and the views of 500 HR Leaders and what they are doing to retain their talent. 

Key findings

• How are career prioritises differing for different generations? 

With 59% of Gen Z seek growth and a clear career pathway, 49% of Millennials want a more balanced career approach and 31% of Gen X are looking for stability, how can HR leaders effectively manage the career needs of a multi-generational workforce?

• AI and Skills Gaps Are Top Concerns
  47% of HR leaders cite AI skills as the most significant gap in their workforce. 76% of professionals view AI proficiency as essential for career advancement, signaling a strong desire to remain competitive in a changing technological landscape.

• Salary Isn’t Enough to Attract or Retain Talent
  While 83% of professionals prioritise pay, flexible working (65%), benefits (54%), and career progression (45%) are also critical job selection factors.

• Misalignment Between HR and Employee Priorities
  Employees place far greater emphasis on career progression (43%), benefits (46%), and leadership relationships (23%) than HR leaders do.

• Internal Mobility and Onboarding Are Underleveraged Assets
  27% of professionals are open to exploring internal roles, yet structured career pathways remain underutilised.

Download the report today.