Every spring, as the days get longer and iced coffee orders get bolder, there’s another seasonal ritual that stirs in the hearts of many workers: the fantasy of quitting their jobs. Whether it’s for greener pastures, a better boss, or simply a place that doesn’t require three different Slack channels to schedule one meeting, the desire to quit is alive and well. 

According to fresh research, just as many people in 2025 are itching to leave their jobs as they were in 2023 and 2024. But here’s the twist: they’re not going anywhere. 

So what’s stopping them? One word: the economy—that amorphous, anxiety-inducing cloud looming over our heads like the world’s worst Zoom background. 

The Great Resignation Has a New Cousin: The Great Hesitation 

Let’s rewind for a second. Remember the Great Resignation of 2021–2022? People were fleeing jobs like it was a fire drill in a fireworks factory. Remote work made everyone rethink their priorities, toxic workplaces were getting called out, and recruiters were basically sending job offers like Tinder swipes. 

But now? The vibe has shifted. 

Yes, the desire to quit hasn’t changed. Studies show roughly the same number of people—about 40% according to recent surveys—are still daydreaming about drafting their two-week notice. But fewer are following through. Resignation rates have cooled like last year’s sourdough starter. 

Fear Trumps Frustration 

What gives? 

The answer, unsurprisingly, is fear. With inflation sticking around longer than your in-laws after dinner, interest rates doing a balancing act, and tech layoffs making weekly headlines, workers are understandably hesitant. Even if you’re unhappy, it’s hard to jump ship when the waters ahead look murky and full of metaphorical jellyfish (a.k.a. hiring freezes, rescinded offers, and “we’re looking for someone with 12 years of experience in a junior role” job posts). 

It’s not that people suddenly love their jobs—they’re just playing it safe. Because in 2025, job security is the new job satisfaction. 

The Rise of the “Silent Job Seeker” 

There’s even a name for this new breed of career cautiousness: the silent job seeker. They’re scrolling LinkedIn under the covers like it’s forbidden content, quietly updating their résumés, maybe even dabbling in a cover letter or two. But they’re not applying. Not really. Maybe saving a post here, bookmarking a startup there. Like window shopping for jobs without ever trying anything on. 

This is the career equivalent of being emotionally checked out of a relationship, but staying in it because rent is expensive and dating sounds exhausting. 

But Here’s the Plot Twist: This Is the Calm Before the Talent Storm 

Let’s talk about what happens next. Because the economy won’t stay shaky forever—and when it rebounds, we’re betting on a second wave of exits. 

Why? Because pent-up career frustration doesn’t just vanish. It waits. It builds. And when the market improves—when companies start hiring freely again, when raises are back on the table, when layoffs aren’t lurking like horror movie villains—watch out. 

We’re expecting a delayed Great Resignation. Call it the “Career Correction.” Call it “The Quittin’ Boom.” Whatever name sticks, the outcome is clear: people who’ve been gritting their teeth through toxic meetings, flat salaries, and “collaboration overload” are going to sprint, not walk, out the door. 

What Employers Should Be Doing Right Now (But Probably Aren’t) 

This lull? It’s a golden opportunity for companies to get ahead of the inevitable wave of exits. But many are mistaking silence for satisfaction. 

Spoiler alert: Just because your team isn’t quitting doesn’t mean they’re happy. In fact, they might be planning their exit strategy in the same doc where they track PTO. 

Smart leaders should be: 

• Listening harder than ever. Exit interviews won’t help you if people never make it to the exit. 

• Investing in real retention strategies. Think: career development, internal mobility, flexible work options—not just another pizza party. 

• Keeping pay competitive. Because loyalty doesn’t pay the bills, and eventually, someone else will. 

The Exodus Is Coming—Just Not Yet 

Right now, workers are in survival mode. But give it a few months—or a year—and we’ll see the return of mass job movement. The people still showing up to Monday meetings with dead eyes and passive-aggressive emojis in Slack? They’re waiting. Plotting. Practicing how to say “thank you for the opportunity” with just the right amount of fake sincerity. 

When the economy gives the green light, a whole lot of folks are going to press go. The question is: will your company be somewhere people want to stay… or just another stepping stone they finally feel safe leaving?