‘Great Resigners’ Report Shows Opportunity for Higher Ed

In 2021, people officially got fed up with work. The Great Resignation, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic conditions, and a long-simmering dissatisfaction, spread across the U.S., with over 47 million people quitting their jobs—23% of the workforce. A new report by the ed tech company Cengage Group shows that, one year later, the great resigners have a strong desire for reskilling and upskilling programs—an opportunity for higher ed.

Michael Hansen, CEO of the Cengage Group“Colleges who offer flexible, shorter term and cost-effective ‘micro-credential’ opportunities will win out in today’s market,” said Cengage CEO Michael Hansen. “Colleges who offer courses tied to employer needs and at affordable costs will capitalize on the high demand and in turn help the workforce and economy make a comeback.”

The report is based on a survey of 1,200 people over 25 who quit their job and found a new one between May 2021 and May 2022. Its results were clear: opportunities to advance are crucial. A higher percentage of respondents cited feeling “stuck” in their role as the primary reason for leaving their job than cited inadequate compensation. The number one reason that resigners chose new jobs was because the company had a clear path to career growth.

The report showed that, in order to advance, resigners are looking for online learning opportunities. Two-thirds of resigners reported taking an internet training course to improve their job prospects, and 89% think that it helped them get their new job. Two-thirds said that employer-sponsored training was an important factor in choosing their new job, and nearly all of those whose new employers offer those opportunities were planning on taking them.

These shifts reflect a deeper change in the relationship between work and education.

Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, senior fellow at the National Skills Coalition“We’ve moved away from that 1980s-style one and done: first I’m going to go through my education, then I’m going to get a job,” said Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, a senior fellow at the National Skills Coalition. “People are consistently learning new skills to stay up to date with their current jobs and needing to learn new skills as they consider moving into different roles or a different industry.”

In order to meet new student needs, schools have been creating more flexible structures, with returning learners in mind.