Job Hugging

We're calling it "job hugging" and it may be one of the biggest labor market trends nobody is talking about.

People staying in jobs they'd leave tomorrow if the world felt a little less uncertain.

It won't show up in vacancy data.

It won't show up in application numbers.

But you'll hear it in conversations with candidates:

👉 "I'm not actively looking, but..."

👉 "I'd consider the right opportunity, but..."

👉 "I've been thinking about moving for a while, but..."

These aren't happy, engaged employees.

They're people who are ready for a change but are choosing security over risk.

And that's creating a challenge for employers. The talent you want isn't applying for your roles. They're staying put, waiting for the economy, their industry, or their personal circumstances to feel more predictable.

So if you're struggling to hire right now, it may not be because the right people aren't out there.

It's because they're invisible to traditional recruitment channels.

The organisations successfully attracting this talent aren't relying solely on job adverts. They're partnering with recruiters who have already built trusted relationships with these individuals and can have conversations long before a vacancy is posted.

In today's market, access to talent is increasingly about relationships, not reach.

Are you seeing "job hugging" in your sector?