Study: Most retail workers considering switching careers or industries
A majority of job seekers, especially those in retail, are looking for a career change.
More than half (54%) of job seekers are interested in switching careers or industries, according to talent success company Criteria’s 2026 Candidate Experience report. Those in blue collar fields are 25% more likely to want to switch careers compared to white collar workers, while those with higher educational attainment are the least likely.
Nearly seven-in-10 (69%) retail candidates are looking to switch careers, the highest percentage of any sector in the study. Retail was followed by those in education (67%), hospitality (65%) and transportation & logistics (63%).
Of those job seekers who say they want to switch careers, nearly half (48%) say they are interested in switching into the tech industry, making it the most popular industry for prospective career switchers. The second most popular industry is healthcare, with 37% expressing interest, followed by 31% for finance.
[READ MORE: Survey: 'Confidence gap' exists between Gen Z workers and peers]
Candidates are trying hard to find work, according to Criteria’s survey. More than half (52%) of active job seekers say they apply to 1-10 jobs per week, while 27% apply to 10-20 jobs. Ten percent apply to 20-30 jobs, while apply for 30-50 jobs. Six percent of those surveyed apply for over 50 jobs a week.
The survey found that 44% of job candidates say they would prefer to work in a hybrid role, followed closely by 38% who want a fully remote role. Eighteen percent say they would prefer to work fully in-person.
Forty-two percent of job seekers say that the ideal amount of time to stay in a role is 3-5 years, according to the survey. However, 30% of job seekers think it’s best to stay in a job for more than 10 years.
Four-in-10 (39%) job applicants say a strong resume is the key for advancing to the next stage of the hiring process, while 20% say it’s most important to have the right credentials or certifications. Seventeen percent think their personal network and referrals will help them advance, and 15% see assessment scores as a way to get noticed.
Nearly seven-in-10 (68%) job candidates say they would be open to a hiring process that skips resumes entirely (26% say yes, 42% say maybe). Just 32% say they prefer the way things are now, with resumes at the start of the process.
The 2026 Candidate Experience Report details data-backed insights from more than 2,500 job seekers worldwide. The full report can be found here.
