The "Great Resignation" era is coming to an end and workers are hunkering down in long-term jobs, according to new research.
A career trend dubbed "job hugging" has gained momentum, where employees tend to stick to the same role they may not enjoy, but choose to remain in due to the tough job market.
A LinkedIn survey of 2000 people has found 59 per cent of Australians plan to stay in the same job in 2026, a sharp rise compared to 51 per cent last year.
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Four in five people also admitted they feel "unprepared" for a job search, while more than a third of Australians said they were wary of how AI may play a role in the hiring process.
Another seven in 10 Aussies said finding a job had become "harder" in the past 12 months.
After a post-COVID rise in job hopping, it appears workers are willing to stay in the same role as confidence in the job market decreases.
Economic uncertainty is listed as the top reason Australians are unwilling to change jobs, the research found.
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"After the 'Great Resignation', we are seeing the opposite behaviour," LinkedIn career expert Brendan Wong said.
"Australians are job hugging - staying in roles they might have otherwise left because the market feels uncertain and highly competitive.
"When four in five people say they feel unprepared to job hunt, it's not surprising many are choosing stability over risk."
Despite widespread suspicion over hiring managers using AI, it appears Gen Z is the generation most willing to accept it.
LinkedIn found 43 per cent of Gen Z job seekers say AI-led interviews would make them "less nervous".
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Wong said it was a good idea for job seekers to familiarise themselves with AI.
"AI is shaping almost every part of the job search, from finding roles to being pre-screened by recruiters and preparing for interviews," he said.
"The key is to start small."
Despite widespread reluctance to change jobs this year, the professional social networking platform reported there are a few career paths on the rise.
Chief among them are AI engineers, risk officers and mechanical engineers.
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