A common question many employers are wondering these days is whether or not today’s job seekers are more likely to relocate for the opportunity of work. The short answer is simply not as much as they would in the past. In fact, according to several human resource studies, the amount of jobless executives and managers willing to move for new jobs sunk by almost 40% from pre-recession levels.
Why is there this dip in the willingness to move for work opportunities? In some cases, if one spouse is still employed and they make the bigger salary, the couple may decide to stay put. This makes sense for many families who would be at risk should they relocate for a partner’s new job – one that might not be as stable or secure.
Another reason many people decided not to relocate for new jobs is that the prospective employers, though perhaps offering employment, were not offering to pay for the moving expenses – or any part of them. Because of the country’s failing economy, such potential employees simply could not afford to move.
However, the studies also showed that the recession isn’t entirely to blame. Today, more and more women are contributing to the family income, which means if the male spouse loses a job, there are less feelings of desperation when job loss does occur. The reduction in willingness to move for a job hasn’t stopped companies from using technology to interview new candidates. Many hiring managers conduct initial interviews via telephone and videoconference before bringing potential hires into the office for the final stages of the process.
Lance Grooms
