Job-hopping stereotype busted: Younger workers match older generations’ tenure

“Younger workers have always changed jobs more often than older workers as they find their career path. That was true for Baby Boomers, Gen X, and it remains true today,” said NIRS executive director Dan Doonan in a statement.

What is job-hopping?

Job-hopping refers to the practice of changing jobs frequently, often holding several positions within a relatively short period.

The practice is often strongly associated with younger employees, especially Gen Z. In fact, a 2023 report from ResumeLab found that 83% of Gen Z workers in the US considered themselves job hoppers.

But the NIRS report, which looked at employment data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicated that shorter job tenure among younger workers is not a new trend.

According to the report, employees aged 25 to 34 in 1983 — now part of the Baby Boomer generation — had a median job tenure of three years.