In previous years, more and more new permanent contracts were concluded than were terminated. But this reversed in 2023, Acerta found. Especially in the catering and trade sectors, more employees left than started a new job. The HR service provider looked at the careers of 200,000 employees active in 20,000 companies in the private sector.
Young people most often terminate their contracts. This concerns more than a fifth (21.3 percent) among 20 to 24-year-olds this year, and 17.2 percent among 25 to 30-year-olds. “It is therefore important for companies to invest sufficiently in a sound retention policy that focuses on well-being, meaning, career opportunities, training and further training,” says Acerta.
According to the general analysis, more employees left this year at the request of their employer (17.4 percent of terminated contracts) or by mutual agreement (34.4 percent) than in 2022. Employees left less often on their own initiative, although they remain they are the most important group (38 percent). Retirements account for the remaining 10.2 percent.
The inflow of new contracts also decreased, according to Acerta as a result of the tight labor market. This makes it more difficult for companies to find suitable candidates to fill vacancies.
“A negative ratio between inflow and outflow may also be related to the ever-increasing digitalization,” says the HR service provider. “It is not inconceivable that employers will try to (partly) compensate for the shortage of people as a result of the labor shortage by further automating or digitizing processes.”