We’ve all heard of ‘job for life’. We also saw the job-hopping trend that the lockdown era brought. But what about ‘employer for life’?
As a leading employer in the UK, we looked into current employment trends and found a significant generational shift in attitudes to work as 75% of Generation Z seek more secure, longer term tenures than has been the norm in recent years – something we’ve always seen at Admiral.
Our new research of 2,000 UK employees from various industries, shows that nearly nine out of 10 (88%) of Generation Z say that when job-hunting, they prioritise finding the stability of a single employer that can provide financial security and a sense of community and belonging.
18-27-year-olds were found to be most likely to want an ‘employer-for-life’ that supports their life outside of work and offers the opportunity to move around within a company to Grow & Progress.
An employer for life, a place where you can move around within a business or between our businesses, develop and take on many roles within your career, is something we’ve created at Admiral through our culture from day one.
What we see when recruiting for Admiral is that people don't want to learn and leave, they want to invest in themselves and their workplace, gain equity in the company through owning a part of it, and are prioritising personal development and work-life balance.
Matt Wintle, Head of Talent Acquisition and Development
The research also reveals:
Gen Z are more likely to choose an employer for financial stability (55%) over ‘having a purpose’ (45%) and are split 50:50 on whether they’d prefer to ‘make more money’ or ‘make a difference’ – while every other generation choose money
Millennials are more likely to choose work-life balance over career advancement (52% vs 46%) and more likely to seek an employer offering mental health support over professional development opportunities, when compared to their younger colleagues (56% vs 52% among Gen Z)
40% of Baby Boomers say no event during their lifetime has ever caused them to need to seek out more stable careers or employment – four times as many as Gen Z
I joined Admiral in 2010, when I was 23, and I would have never had the life I’ve had if I had chosen to leave and job-hop instead.
At first it was simply a stop gap, but I quickly realised that Admiral could offer everything I wanted from my career and life plans.
Since joining, I’ve been able to really develop my career, become a manager and even change direction, leading to an entirely different career path in project management. I don’t think I would have had those opportunities if I had chosen to work in a series of short term jobs instead.
It's so great to see young people seeing the value in the same opportunity.
Kate McHugh, Project Manager
So ‘employer for life’ is a growing trend in Generation Z, but why has this always been the norm at Admiral?
As of December 2024, 27% of our UK colleague base have worked with us for 10 years or more, and the average tenure is seven years.
We’ve always set out to help everyone, regardless of age, have a fulfilling and enjoyable career at Admiral. Our free share scheme enables colleagues to own part of the business and therefore feel truly invested in it. And our people promise, Where You Can, ensures that everyone can Be You, Grow & Progress, Make A Difference, and Share In Our Future.
If young people are given the right support and clear paths for progression, they’re far more likely to stay with an employer for the long term. Job-hopping often stems from a lack of these opportunities and a feeling of stagnation.
In today’s economic climate, the stability of a supportive workplace can make a huge difference, offering not just financial security but also a sense of purpose and belonging.
Shoshanna Davis, 'The Fairy Jobmother'
If you want Admiral to be your next ‘employer for life’, take a look at our current vacancies and join the team!
