Dec. 17, 2023

The headline is probably a little over the top, but it’s not entirely exaggeration either.

For the last few months of the year, I’ve been struck by how many people I know in the community who are changing jobs, considering changing jobs or wishing they could change jobs.

I could float a number of theories as to what’s behind it, everything from a little pandemic-related pent-up demand to burnout to a labor market that continues generally to lean in workers’ favor.

But instead, I decided to ask the audience.

A few weeks ago, I asked the 9,000-plus subscribers to our SiouxFalls.Business e-newsletters (subscribe at the bottom of this page if you aren’t signed up — it’s free) what they thought might be happening.

The responses came in faster and more revealing than I expected.

“I completely agree with the change-of-jobs observation,” one person wrote.

She saw the changes for all kinds of reasons: A more entry-level employee changed jobs for the appeal of hybrid work. Another employee was offered a management position at a competitor “for significantly more compensation.” Someone else changed from a marketing role to wealth management “for a new challenge.”

A close relative was laid off from a large company, she continued.

“This large company sold their building in Sioux Falls as a result of COVID transitions and had staff work remotely,” she said.

It went on.

“My son’s day care closed with a very short window of notice. Of course, this caused teachers to transition to either new centers or other opportunities. I can also name a handful of parents are becoming stay-at-home parents due to the cost and stress of day care.”

And that was just one reader.

Another pointed out challenges in running a small organization essentially solo, from the travel to the business development.

A third talked about a recent job change of his own and what drove it.

“One was a desire to work for a smaller, growing company and get away from some of the corporateness involved in working for a large national company,” he said.

“The second was establishing connections and relationships locally and making a difference in this community as opposed to traveling the country and having many of my professional relationships in other communities — also being home with my family full time. The third was a pull towards a company full of young and hungry people that share a similar mindset and worldview to myself.”

Finally, one 24-year-old gave some eye-opening insight into why she changed jobs early in her career.

“I think one of the big reasons I switched jobs — and when I have talked to my peers about switching jobs — is culture,” she said. “As someone who is younger, it felt like in college they preached mental health. I do believe culture and caring about your employees is such a big reason people either stay in jobs or leave. I spend 40-plus hours a week at a job; I give a lot of myself to the employer. I think it is fair to want that in return.”

For instance, in her last job, she was required to use paid time off for a medical appointment, even though she was a salaried employee, she said. If she worked an extra five to 10 hours per week for a special event, she wasn’t allowed to flex her schedule. There were no companywide or culture-building activities.

“At my past job, everyone was very micromanaged, making everything I did anxiety-inducing, nervous that I was going to mess up. At my current job, I am trusted to do the job I was hired to do,” she said.

“These are just a few reasons I left my past job. I think most people my age would say that culture is such an important part to a career. I know that I want to be somewhere long term, but I also know I want to make sure it is a healthy work environment that makes me feel welcomed and comfortable.”

Agree or not, these are the sorts of considerations people are using as they make their career moves.

Interestingly, some national projections predict 2024 could be the year of “the great stay,” where some of the shifts of recent years start to give way to people seeking more sustainable employment.

In Sioux Falls, though, as businesses continue to expand, I think there will be more opportunities for workers and ongoing demand for employers to create the sort of work environments that attract and retain them.

I’ve talked with multiple employers recently whose job openings have drawn surprisingly high amounts of interest from applicants. It’s a good reminder to never take talent for granted — as the next job swap could be just an office away.