The numbers are clear: 44 percent of employees have already thought about a lateral move, and 26 percent have done so, according to the current Xing labor market report. Among 25 to 34 year olds the rate is as high as 31 percent. It becomes even clearer when it comes to willingness to change: According to the Königsteiner Group’s most recent job change compass, seven out of ten employees who are willing to change can imagine a career change. The number of job advertisements for career changers has quadrupled in the past five years.
What has long been a reality on the employee side is also becoming established in recruiting. In 2026, 64 percent of companies plan to actively hire people from other professional fields. 77 percent want to adjust their selection criteria and give greater weight to skills, according to a current Stepstone analysis. Saying goodbye to the perfect CV is no longer a utopia, but a necessity. Thomas Kindler, Managing Director of Xing, sums up the situation: “Companies have realized that waiting for the ideal candidate is a losing strategy. It’s no longer about where someone learned something, but whether they can apply it.”
