Almost half of Americans are career cushioning as they explore backup options: new survey
According to a new study, 48% of Americans are “career cushioning” — exploring what backup options they have if their current job doesn’t meet their expectations.The new poll of 2,000 American office workers found 77% of them have started to prepare for their backup career, just in case something happens in their current career.Workers said they’d be motivated to pursue their backup career if it allowed them to do something they actually enjoy (29%), allowed for a better lifestyle or less stress, even at the same pay (29%), or if they lost their current job (29%).Meanwhile, 52% of respondents haven’t considered a backup career, with many of them stating they feel held back by not having the time (27%), worries over being too old to start over (26%), and fears about having to start at an entry-level position again (20%).Although workers believe in preparing for a second career, the study commissioned by TripleTen and conducted by Talker Research revealed that 91% have stayed in their current job for the past two years.Workers said they feel optimistic (27%), calm (20%), excited (19%), and hopeful (18%) about the stability of their jobs.And 54% believe there’s low or no risk of them losing their current job or needing to find a new one within the next two years.However, nearly half of those who have stayed put (46%) said their responsibilities and duties have significantly changed over the past two years.
Those changes include learning new technologies (36%), facing economic shifts (24%), picking up extra work for peers (20%), and even layoffs (18%).“Today’s workforce is changing quickly, and the ability to adapt has become an increasingly valuable career asset,” explains Victor Menin, Ed.D., Vice President of Enrollment at TripleTen.“Developing skills beyond the immediate requirements of your current position can create opportunities and provide a path forward when circumstances change.
You don’t have to be planning a career change today to ...