The Great Resignation of the pandemic years may still be unfolding. An increasing number of employees are reconsidering their options as they feel overworked and underpaid amid relentless cost pressures.

Auditor PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey, published Tuesday, highlights that more people are contemplating resignation now than during the mass resignations witnessed in 2022. This comprehensive survey covered over 56,000 workers globally.

Nearly half of the survey’s respondents are millennials, followed by Gen X and Gen Z employees. The report indicates a significant rise, from 19% during the Great Resignation in 2022 to 28%, in the number of individuals planning to change jobs.

The driving factors? Increased workload, career ambitions, and the integration of new technology in the workplace.

Almost half of those surveyed reported a “significant” increase in their workload over the past 12 months. Additionally, 43% of workers expressed concerns about their compensation, with many intending to request pay raises. Moreover, 62% of employees feel that the pace of workplace change has accelerated, particularly due to the adoption of new tech tools and heightened financial pressures.

Employees’ personal goals to enhance their skill sets and advance their careers are also prompting them to consider new opportunities.

Overall, a growing number of workers believe that transitioning to a new role may provide the respite they seek.

“Workers around the world are increasingly prioritising long-term skills growth and looking to organisations that can help them facilitate this,” stated Carol Stubbings, PwC U.K.’s Global Markets and Tax and Legal Services Leader. She emphasised that emerging technologies like generative AI are now at the forefront for employees.

“Ultimately, employees may be looking to switch for a variety of reasons, many of which will depend on their unique circumstances and the broader trends facing their geography, industry, and role,” Stubbings added.

Other studies echo similar findings. A LinkedIn and Microsoft survey published earlier this year, which included 31,000 people worldwide, revealed that an even higher proportion of individuals are considering quitting their jobs in the coming year compared to during the pandemic.

Europe’s Rising Resignation Rates

The Great Resignation may have started in the U.S., but Europe has not been immune. Countries like France and Germany have grappled with job, pay, and benefits dilemmas over the past few years.

In the U.K., more workers have contemplated leaving their jobs post-pandemic than during it. This dissatisfaction coincides with elevated interest rates and living costs, prompting many to seek better opportunities. Additionally, the trend of “quiet quitting,” where employees disengage from their roles without formally resigning, has impacted productivity.

“It’s essential that leaders prioritise well-being as a core value and critical enabler of performance within their organisation. Overstressed and distracted workers are less likely to perform well,” the PwC report emphasised.

These trends suggest a continuation of the Great Resignation, albeit in a period that, while relatively “normal,” still faces significant challenges.

AI is one of these challenges, PwC’s report noted. AI platforms can enhance efficiency, making them invaluable in the future workplace.

Most CEOs attribute new workplace changes to technology, yet few employees regularly use generative AI-powered tools. Despite this, employees remain optimistic about AI, according to Stubbings.

The study found that 72% of respondents who infrequently use AI believe it will improve their work quality, and half expect it will lead to higher salaries.

However, data suggests that many who leave their jobs eventually regret their decision.

Will this deter the growing number of employees considering quitting? Perhaps not. PwC advises managers to assist employees in balancing workplace changes and avoiding burnout.

“Companies need to create guidance and mentoring about the types of skills employees need to build. It’s also important to create a culture of learning, where freeing up opportunities for learning is part of the organisation’s DNA,” PwC concluded in its report.