Job seekers are 70% less likely to leave their positions before securing new employment compared to last year, while career gaps due to medical issues and family responsibilities are increasing, according to new research.
A study by MyPerfectResume analyzing 33,000 cover letters from early 2024 and 2025 found significant shifts in job search behavior, with workers prioritizing stability while dealing with more health and caregiving responsibilities.
The data showed early-career workers are 63% less likely to resign before finding a new role, while mid-to-late career professionals showed a 70% decrease in this behavior.
“The days of quitting a job before searching for a new one may be fading,” said Jasmine Escalera, career expert at MyPerfectResume.
Health and caregiving gaps on the rise
While fewer people are voluntarily leaving jobs to search for new opportunities, more are taking career breaks for personal reasons. Medical-related career gaps increased 14% overall, with early-career workers experiencing a 20% rise and mid-to-late career workers seeing a 22% increase.
Childcare-related employment gaps grew by 12%, with early-career workers reporting an 18% increase compared to 9% for mid-to-late career workers.
The research highlights “the growing need for companies to provide flexible work arrangements, paid leave, and better support systems,” Escalera said.
Mobile vs. desktop job seekers show different patterns
The study revealed a growing divide between job seekers using different technologies. Mobile users, who often include younger professionals and gig workers, reported more employment gaps with early-career mobile users seeing a 43% increase in work history gaps.
Meanwhile, desktop users reported 4% fewer employment gaps, suggesting greater job stability among this group.
For employers, the findings suggest they may experience fewer voluntary resignations but should expect more employees to conduct job searches while still employed. The rise in medical and caregiving gaps also points to the importance of flexible work policies that support employees balancing career and personal needs.
The analysis examined cover letters created on the platform between January and February of 2024 and 2025, looking for references to employment gaps, reasons for leaving jobs, and job search behaviors.
