Will 2025 see The Great Resignation mark II?

That actually seems to be likely, in the UK at least.

A lot of passive job seekers that we are speaking to are sitting tight but ready to move.

Many have been waiting for markets to turn and the job market to become buoyant for most of 2024 (if not longer!).

Earlier in 2024, a survey from Blackhawk Network (BHN) Europe found that 73% of those surveyed were going to look for a new role this year.

That appetite for job seeking, however, has not been matched by the job market.

The most recent UK Report on Jobs from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation finds that permanent placements have reduced steeply and pay growth is stalling.

This has been the trend for 2024 and much of 2023, so some job seekers might have been waiting patiently for the last 12-18 months to make a move.

That patience is likely wearing thin for some and moving jobs will become a priority for many - as soon as they feel confident to start their search.

HR software provider Personio's annual "Workforce Pulse" survey of UK employees, conducted in August this year, indicates that just about 50% of the participants are motivated to move jobs when they feel the economy has improved,

If we start to see a return of Employer confidence to hire (the REC report points to seeing a positive uplift in the last couple of months), 2025 could see a flood of job seekers hit the market chomping at the bit to secure a new challenge.

Employee resignations lead to replacements and new hiring requirements and is a viscous circle (that expression sounds so negative but in recruitment terms that is a great thing!).

I had hoped to see a bigger uplift of vacancies come to market after the Summer finished.

But it appears to still be quite slow out there as the "Jobs Outlook" report from the REC signals, alongside of the feedback we are receiving day to day from candidates, particularly those in mid to senior management roles.


The often marketed "New Year, New Job" prophecy might well come true in early 2025.

Increasing Employer confidence to hire + candidates ready to move = the Great Resignation mark II?

We will see!

Chris Jones is Managing Director of Think Specialist Recruitment, an independent recruitment business based in Hemel Hempstead. We specialise in three key areas - Business Support, Accountancy & Finance and Human Resources - recruiting high calibre candidates on both a permanent and temporary basis. 

If you would like to find out more about the market and/or our services, you can contact Chris on [email protected] or call 01442 600100 to speak with him or a member of our team. 

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