7 Signs You Should Be Looking for a New Job in 2025
Written by
Emily Fowler
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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The U.S. job market is shifting fast. Deep cuts at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are flooding the market with ex-federal employees, adding even more competition for top roles.
With 74% of professionals planning to look for new roles in 2025, according to the Robert Walters Salary Survey, it’s more important than ever to weigh the risks. Jumping ship at the wrong time could mean trading stability for uncertainty — but ignoring warning signs could mean missing a better opportunity.
If any of the following sound familiar, it might be time to move on to a new job.
Pay Hasn’t Kept Up
Raises aren’t automatic. Inflation is still squeezing household budgets and if wages have barely moved in years, that’s a problem. According to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Work in America Survey, people worried about their pay not keeping up with inflation are twice as likely to be dissatisfied with their jobs and feel stressed during their workdays. If the paycheck hasn’t grown while workloads have, financial progress might not happen here.
Career Growth Has Stalled
A role that once felt promising can turn into a dead end. If promotions are rare, responsibilities haven’t changed in years or leadership keeps making vague promises about future opportunities, the ladder might not go any higher. Companies that value employees invest in up-skilling, mentorship and internal mobility. If that’s missing, the next step might not be up — it might be out.
Work Feels Like a Slog
Stress and exhaustion shouldn’t be the norm. If days drag, motivation is gone or Sunday evenings bring a sense of dread, that’s more than just a rough patch. A draining job can impact mental and physical health and workplaces that don’t prioritize well-being will keep losing good people.
Toxicity Is the Norm
Anything from unpleasant office politics to a culture of fear can make work life unbearable and 15% of employees say they work in a toxic environment, according to the APA survey. Toxicity, whether from colleagues or management, leads to an environment where employees feel undervalued and overworked. If speaking up leads to retaliation or nothing ever changes, there’s no reason to stick around.
Job Security Looks Uncertain
According to the Pew Research Center, people’s sense of job security barely changed between 2022 and 2024, with 35% saying they felt a great deal of security in 2022 and 33% saying the same in 2024. However, that research shared that Government workers were the most likely, at 47%, to say they have a great deal of job security in 2024, but the current political shifts may well have changed that.
If leadership has frozen hiring, cut budgets or reshuffled teams without a clear plan, instability could be creeping in. Waiting until layoffs happen isn’t a strategy. Getting ahead of the curve is.
Benefits and Perks Are Disappearing
Salary obviously matters, but benefits play a huge role too. Employers holding back on training, scaling down wellness programs or cutting back on flexibility might be signaling that retention isn’t a focus. While pay raises aren’t guaranteed, the best companies find other ways to keep employees engaged and supported.
Coasting Has Become the Default
Gallop reported employee engagement in the U.S. last year was at its lowest level since 2014, with only 31% of employees engaged and 17% actively disengaged. This isn’t only a problem for employers. A role that no longer pushes skills or offers new experiences can lead to stagnation. If days feel repetitive and learning opportunities are gone, the job might not be the problem — the environment might be.
With the market shifting and uncertainty growing due to DOGE cuts and the current political climate, making the decision to switch jobs won’t be an easy one. However, if stability, satisfaction and growth aren’t on the table, 2025 might be the year to at least start looking elsewhere.
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