Experts at GIGAcalculator analysed occupation data to uncover the sectors where employees are the least loyal - and the age group most likely to treat the office like a revolving door. They also partnered with career experts JobLeads to share five job hopping dos and don’ts to fast-track your career smartly.
Workers who have been with their current employer for fewer than 12 months are considered job hoppers.
The hospitality and food services industry has the highest number of job hoppers, with one in three (34%) unlikely to stay with their employer long term. Given the demanding nature of the job, irregular hours and relatively low wages - averaging around £31,500 per year - it's no surprise that employees are quick to seek other opportunities.
After that, the arts, entertainment and recreation sector sees 26.3% of its workforce considered job hoppers with a median tenure of 2.7 years. Having one of the lowest average annual incomes on the list (£30,069), alongside the hospitality industry, it's clear that passion alone isn't enough to keep workers committed - low pay makes these industries more prone to job hopping.
Next on the job hopping list is the wholesale and retail trade industry, where 1 in 4 (25%) employees change jobs within a year, with the median tenure standing at 3.1 years.
Rounding off the top five are the publishing and media industry, and human resources, with 21.3% and 21.2% of job hoppers, respectively. Despite relatively higher average incomes, the volatile nature of the media industry is evident, as nearly 4,000 journalism jobs were eliminated in 2024 alone. And what’s more ironic than the HR sector - responsible for hiring and retention - having one of the highest job hopping rates itself?
The most loyal industries revealed
Legal services see the lowest job hopping rate at 17.5%, followed closely by the property and real estate sector, where just 18% of employees move on within a year.
Public administration ranks third among the most loyal industries, with only a tiny amound over 18% of employees job hopping. Boasting the longest median tenure of 6.2 years and a notably higher average salary of £45,450, public sector roles tend to offer job security and strong benefits.
Banking and finance, utilities and energy, and science, IT, and tech follow as sectors with the most loyal employees, each offering average annual salaries exceeding £41,000 - among the highest on the list.
Gen Z and Millennials are at the forefront of job hopping. While the striking 70.3% of 16 to 19-year-olds could be attributed to the part-time nature of early jobs, a notable 48.3% of those aged 20 to 24 are quick to move on in their careers, along with 28.1% of 25 to 34-year-olds.
In contrast, older age groups show far greater career stability. Workers aged 35 to 44 have a markedly lower job-hopping rate of 17.5%, dropping to just 12.6% for those aged 45 to 54. The shift in career attitudes is clear - younger generations favour flexibility and rapid growth, while older workers value consistency and long-term commitment.
