Will The Cost Of Living Make You Look For A New Job?

We don’t need to tell you that the average American worker is being hit hard by inflation, which is now at a record high. A study by Salary Finance earlier this year found that, of the 3,001 Americans surveyed by the personal finance company, 45 percent of respondents felt financially stressed, the highest percentage over the last four years, while 76 percent of respondents said the rising price of consumer goods had impacted their finances.

Add to this findings from the recent Wall Street Journal-NORC poll, where more than 8 in 10 believe the state of the nation’s economy is poor or not so good, and the outlook is at best sour, at worst, downright pessimistic.

The Wall Street Journal concurred, reporting that the figure represents the highest dissatisfaction level ever recorded on the question, which the outlet has asked every few years starting in 1972.

Sobering statistics

These sobering statistics might go some way to explaining why Americans continue to type resignation letters as you read these words. The Great Resignation/Relocation/Re-evaluation rages on despite recession fears, or perhaps because of them. In June, 4.2 million Americans quit their jobs, according to the U.S. Labor Department’s latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary, which is only down slightly from 4.3 million in May.

To date, roughly 73 million Americans have left their positions since the beginning of 2021. Prompted by the pandemic, employees have been heading for pastures new, demanding more money, better working conditions, improved work-life balance and more opportunities to advance their career. As a result, the scales have tipped in favor of labor, with employers having to bend over backward to attract and retain talent.

Even better news for job seekers is that the market is on fire right now, with 10.1 million job openings in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. American workers have rarely had so many job opportunities with government figures indicating there are nearly two vacancies for every person looking for work.

Employers, by the same token, are struggling to find and hire great talent, and as a result they are offering increasing pay, perks and opportunities, to both new employees and current ones.

So, whether you choose to stay in your current role and ask for a salary increase, or look for something new with more money, it pays to do your research, keep the above statistics in mind, crunch the numbers, and explore your options. Speaking of which, if you’re looking for a new position, consider your options with these three inspiring roles to get you started:

Director of Federal Affairs, City Year, Washington D.C.

City Year is seeking an experienced Federal Affairs Director to join its Federal Affairs and National Service Policy team. You will use your knowledge of Congress and the Executive Branch to help shape and advance City Year’s legislative priorities and cultivate bipartisan champions among key decision makers in the federal government. You will work closely with the Senior Vice President for Federal Affairs to ensure that City Year/Voices for National Service is a highly visible, trusted and influential resource on Capitol Hill and with the Executive Branch. The ideal candidate will have experience with the legislative process, policy analysis or advocacy and will need to be self-motivated, enjoy working within a fast-paced environment, and have an understanding of, or an interest in, national service and education issues. Get the full job spec here.

Advocacy Manager, National PTA, Alexandria

National PTA is seeking an Advocacy Manager to help support extensive federal, state and grassroots advocacy efforts on behalf of National PTA and millions of members nationwide before Congress and the Administration, managing all advocacy communications to the network and Capitol Hill. The ideal candidate will have a strong passion for the power and possibility of advocacy, knowledge of legislative and advocacy processes, education and children advocacy issues, and at least three to four years’ related experience in public policy, working on Capitol Hill in a state legislature or national non-profit association or advocacy organization. Find out more about the job here.

Senior Director, Federal Policy & Advocacy (Hybrid), The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Washington, D.C.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is seeking a Senior Director to work closely with the Chief Policy Officer to direct AFSP’s federal policy staff and carry out the organization’s advocacy agenda. This position will enhance AFSP’s advocacy presence in Congress, the Administration and relevant federal agencies. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s Degree, and a Master’s in public policy/related field, or a law degree is preferred. Eight to ten years’ in government relations, federal legislative, Capitol Hill, or public policy experience and proven record of accomplishments is required, and knowledge of suicide prevention, mental health/health policy issues is also preferred. Discover all the details here.

For other inspiring roles like these, and millions more, check out The Hill Jobs Board