Beyond the Backlash
INSIGHTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF INCLUSION, RECRUITMENT, RESEARCH, AND GEN Z
VOLUME 4: From Job Hunting to Job Hugging: Gen Z Staying Put, But Quietly Checking Out
From Job Hunting to Job Hugging: Gen Z Staying Put, But Quietly Checking Out
By Via Valenti, DEI Strategy Advisor, Global View Communications
As economic uncertainty lingers and job openings tighten, a new workplace trend is taking hold: job hugging, a stark comparison to the “Great Resignation” trend we’ve seen over the past couple of years. According to Eagle Hill Consulting’s latest Employee Retention Index, employees across industries are choosing to stay put, with the index rising to 102.9, signaling that this “holding pattern” may continue for at least six months.
For Gen Z workers, the youngest segment of the labor force, the trend is especially strong. Eagle Hill’s data shows they’re the most likely to stay, driven by satisfaction with pay and stability, but also by declining confidence in the broader job market. Monster’s 2025 Job Hugging Report echoes this: nearly half of employees admit they’re job hugging, with 27% citing pay and benefits and 26% citing job security as top motivators.
For employers, this period of high retention may seem positive, but it comes with a warning. When employees cling to jobs out of fear rather than fulfillment, engagement and sentiments towards organizational culture risk slipping. Leaders should seize this moment to re-energize development opportunities and reinforce a sense of purpose and belonging so “job hugging”, especially for Gen Z, doesn’t turn into an opportunity for quiet disengagement.