As reported by HR Director, Almost one in four workers in the UK plans to leave their job in the short term, according to research

The findings also reveal that a further 14% of employees expect to seek new employment within the next two years, taking potential workforce churn through to 2027.

Across generations, the research highlights a common driver behind employees’ intentions to move on: career growth. Gen Z (24%), Millennials (28%) and Gen X (25%) all identified the desire for development and advancement as the primary reason for considering a job change.

Commenting on the findings, Justin Angsuwat, chief people officer at Culture Amp, said the data presents a clear warning for employers. “As we head into 2026, there are interesting signals we need to grapple with. In the UK in particular, the short-term attrition risk levels should make leadership teams pause. But the story behind the numbers is just as important. Employees who feel like they’re developing are significantly more likely to become high performers a year later, but many organisations still treat mobility as a luxury, rather than a retention strategy. If we want people to stay, we need to make growth feel real, even when promotions are tight.”