What Are The Statistics On Job Change In A Lifetime?

How often is it considered normal to change jobs in one lifetime these days?

This is a really interesting question! The most recent reports on this topic by Forbes & Morgan McKinley tell us that the average 35 year old will change jobs 8 to 10 times before they are 42 and change career 6 to 8 times before they retire.

So job change and career transition is not just normal it is expected and considered a reality of the 21st century workplace. Gone is the notion of a linear progression through one job for life. It has been replaced by a workplace defined by transferable skills used simultaneously in a variety of jobs, as a contract employee at other times, and on some occasions as a specialist consultant.
The 21st century worker is a nomadic in nature, seeks new experiences, thinks outside the box and yearns to live in a career they love. Success is self-defined and employees are willing to change job or career direction as often as is necessary to find their career path.

So how do you know if you are average in terms of these statistics? What does job change mean & what does career change mean? What stage of your career life are you in?
Job change means that you move within your existing company to a new role, get a promotion or move company to progress your career. So it is easy to see where you might clock up 8 to 10 job changes before you are 42. From 42 to retirement seems to be a more stable period in terms of job change as you are expected to approximately 4 times during this period.

Career change on the other hand is a much bigger decision. Career change means that you change the fundamental nature of your working role. So if you are like me, at 35 years old, your career trajectory might look like this: started in law, progressed to education, moved to careers & educational psychology as an employee and became self-employed. 35 and 4 career changes under my belt!

Consider this in light of the fact that 50% of the jobs that we will be doing in 2030 have not yet been created who knows what exciting job or career choices are out there for us in the future?

@CareerToLove;?acareertolove.com

BY Sinead Brady