Every quarter our sister CEB program CLC publishes HR news and trends. The Q3 forecast just came out and I thought it would be interesting to share some of their key workforce findings with our membership. In the first half of 2012, a quarter of the workforce was actively looking for a new job, and another 40 % are passively open to taking a new position.  Which means that there is pretty high chance that that the guy two cubicles down from you who has been acting really shady lately and shutting his browser quickly whenever you approach his desk, is very likely out there actively looking for a new job (or alternatively watching YouTube video of salsa-dancing retriever).

If you are wondering what would make your coworker want to leave his cushy corporate comms job (or watch a tutu-clad dancing dog), CLC has the answer to the first question (and the retriever is a really talented dancer).  One of the key things that CLC measures each quarter are reasons for attrition.  Not surprisingly, compensation is one of the key drivers of attrition, but there is one reason for leaving a job cited by employees even more frequently: future career opportunity.  42 % of departing employees cite lack of future career opportunity as one of the top 5 reasons they are leaving their current employer.  Compensation follows as close second, with people management, manager quality and development opportunities closing the top 5 group in the first half of 2012.

Communications seems to be a field that is especially hit by the perennial problem of lack of career opportunities. Many corporate communications teams are small and roles tend to be specialized which often makes it hard for communicators to see what the next step in their career is.  Many communicators only have an opportunity to get promoted or switch role if they leave for another organization.  If you are one of the people who are getting just a little restless in their current role (or are fine where you are but still curious) check out the key responsibilities and competencies of 16 different communications roles that you can find out there. And if you want to figure out if you have what it takes, take our competency self-assessment to figure out how you stack up on the 18 key competencies against more than 2000 communicators in the field.

Recommended Resources

Responsibilities and Competencies of Key Communications Roles

The Modern Communicator’s Skill Set

Individual Online Skills Assessment