‘Job hugging’: why workers are staying put even when they’re unhappy

PETALING JAYA: By all accounts, this should be the era of the career move.

Workers have more tools than ever to search for jobs, network online and explore opportunities beyond their current employers. Yet many are doing the opposite: staying exactly where they are.

The trend has become known as “job hugging” – employees holding tightly to their existing jobs despite feeling disengaged, underchallenged or ready for a change.

According to a report by recruitment platform Monster late last year, nearly half of workers surveyed said they were staying in their current roles longer than they otherwise would because of comfort, security or stability.

Three-quarters expected to remain in the same job for at least another two years.

The phenomenon marks a sharp contrast with the “Great Resignation” that followed the pandemic, when workers left jobs in record numbers in search of better pay, flexibility and work-life balance.

Today, the mood is noticeably different. Rising living costs, concerns about economic growth, and uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence have made many workers more cautious about taking career risks.

While they may browse job listings or update their LinkedIn profiles, fewer are willing to make the leap.

A Forbes report on the trend noted that many employees are staying put not because they are satisfied, but because stability feels more valuable than opportunity in an unpredictable market.

Career coaches say the shift is understandable. Starting a new role comes with risks: probation periods, unfamiliar workplace cultures, and no guarantee that the new job will be any better than the old one.

As such, for some workers, remaining where they are is a rational financial decision. Mortgage commitments, school fees and other household expenses can make steady employment more important than career advancement.

This is despite the fact that in some industries, changing employers remains one of the fastest ways to secure significant salary increases.

The downside is that staying too long in an unfulfilling role can lead to stagnation. Employees who stop learning new skills or taking on fresh challenges may find themselves falling behind colleagues who continue to develop professionally.

People who feel trapped in a job can become disengaged, affecting motivation, productivity and overall wellbeing.

Workplace experts have linked this feeling to another emerging trend known as “quiet cracking”, where employees remain in their jobs while becoming increasingly unhappy and emotionally exhausted.

That does not mean everyone should immediately start looking for the exit. Career experts suggest using periods of uncertainty to build skills, expand professional networks and seek new responsibilities within an existing organisation.

In some cases, a change of role within the same company can provide fresh challenges without the risks associated with switching employers. The key question is whether staying put is a strategic choice or a fear-based one.

Holding on to a stable job during uncertain times may be sensible. But if caution becomes permanent, workers could find that the biggest career risk was never leaving at all.