Job embracing, a popular trend among Gen Z in Australia in 2025, reveals a disheartening state of work environments in the country.
In a surprising turn of events, a new employment trend known as 'job hugging' has taken centre stage in Australia. This trend, characterized by employees holding onto their jobs for longer periods, has left some online users bewildered, with one person describing it as "economic survival".
The shift from the previous trend of 'job hopping', where workers frequently changed jobs for better opportunities, flexibility, and pay, is stark. This transformation is particularly noticeable among Gen Z employees, who are choosing to stay in their current positions.
The reasons behind this trend are multifaceted. Competition among candidates remains extremely strong, with many industries recording historically high levels, according to SEEK Senior Economist Dr Blair Chapman. In such a competitive job market, landing a job can be a daunting task, leading employees to prioritize job security over better opportunities.
Experts attribute this trend to concerns about a cost of living crisis. With rising living expenses, employees are seeking the stability that a steady job provides, rather than the risk of job insecurity that comes with frequent job changes.
The job market is now centred around resilience, career longevity, and future-proofing, according to Jakobs, a director at recruitment firm Randstad. Employees are now focusing on long-term employability and the stability of their roles.
The Hays Employment Report 2025/26 suggests that three in five Australians plan to leave their job in the next 12 months. However, recent employment reports indicate that less than half of all employees are looking to leave their jobs due to a lack of opportunities in their current roles.
This trend is also influenced by the overwhelmingly high job application numbers. According to SEEK research, 'job hugging' may be due to the sheer number of applications per job listing, making it difficult for candidates to stand out.
The trend of 'job hugging' has not gone unnoticed. Some people view it as young Australians chasing the security that previous generations enjoyed. Others see it as a sign of a strong reserve labor force.
However, the financial implications of 'job hugging' are not without debate. One commenter suggests that changing jobs every two to three years can result in a higher income, but salary increases may be too slow in the 'job hugging' scenario.
In contrast, some workers have confessed to being complacent in their current jobs, while others have expressed a preference for working to live instead of living to work.
Recent employment reports suggest a decline in the number of Australians who changed jobs during a year. The number has dropped from 9.5% in 2022 to 7.7% in 2025.
Despite the decline in job changes, the competition for jobs remains intense. Industries such as technology, retail, hospitality, and healthcare are most affected by high competition for recruiting Gen-Z workers, according to the SEEK Employment Report 2025/26.
In an interesting twist, one online user humorously predicted the next big trend to be "unemployment hugging". As the employment landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how 'job hugging' unfolds in the future.
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