Dive Brief:

• A new ManPower Group Solutions survey revealed that 41% of US working adults are "continuous candidates." In other words, they are perpetually searching for a better job. Around the world, this number dips to 37%, but this statistic puts additional pressure on employers to keep employees committed, Business News Daily reports.
• The ManPower survey attributes this willingness to job hop to three main factors, which include: New and more flexible work options, the increase in contract work, and the loss of the perception of job security in a post-recession world. 
• Candidates mentioned during the survey that they were actively seeking new jobs. Almost one-third had applied to 9 jobs in just the last 6 months. The biggest motivator? 33% said it was for money. 

Dive Insight:

There are some critical things that all recruiters can take away from this study. First, individuals are more often seeing themselves as free-agents, which is a direct result of the gig economy and the increased use of contractors by large companies. This means candidates are no longer tied to any one organization for very long, and won't be afraid to walk if the organization fails to keep their interest and meet their needs.

This can be challenging for recruiters who, on the one hand, want to acquire the best talent, but who also need to hire people who will stick around long enough for the organization to get a return on investment. Continuous candidates are driven by a desire for upper movement and increased salary, so they should not be viewed as merely job hoppers but as valuable assets worth pursuing.  

ManPower included some tips to retain and screen candidates, as well.