America Employed: Job Seekers Opting for Purpose over Corporate Promotion

America Employed explores the state of employment and unemployment in the United States. Learn more about the latest insights, according to a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey.

Job Seekers Buck the Trend, Opting for Purpose over Corporate Promotion 

While U.S. hiring managers and job seekers feel career advancement is valuable, many job seekers are more focused on achieving personal fulfillment and work-life balance.

Fifty-eight percent of hiring managers report that the only way for employees to achieve professional success at their company is to “climb the corporate ladder.” Around 7 in 10 job seekers (71%) are similarly aligned on the definition of professional success and believe climbing the corporate ladder is the only way employees can achieve this (57%). Read more.  

Infographic showing survey results on employee priorities, including preference for meaningful work, work-life balance, and career advancement, with ladder visuals.

Mentorship Programs Counter Talent Drain at US Businesses 

Most American companies have lost employees to retirement the past two years, taking valuable institutional knowledge and experience with them. One possible solution? Mentorship programs. 

While not a new concept, mentorship programs are gaining popularity as a way to combat this brain drain (i.e., when older employees retire without sharing knowledge of how to do their job to younger generations) and accelerate recruiting and retention in the current prolonged labor shortage. Read more.  

Bar graph comparing hiring managers and job seekers' views on mentorship program benefits, including employee connection, recruitment, and skill development.

Read more about the latest employment insights in America Employed at ExpressPros.com.

Last Updated on August 28, 2025