Movement in the community:
Motivations for switching employment types
Movement in the community:
Motivations for switching employment types
Movement in the community:
Motivations for switching employment types
There’s a whole host of opportunities available to those working with AWS, meaning professionals have the luxury of exploring the employment type that works best for them. You might prefer working in-house with an AWS customer or consulting with an array of different clients; or maybe you enjoy the freedom and flexibility of freelancing.
With a wide range of choices at the disposal of AWS talent with the right skills and know-how, it’s little wonder that many want to explore all the different pathways open to them. Whether it’s a change of personal circumstance, preference, or simply the desire to try something new, one of the most common shifts we see across the AWS community is permanent professionals shifting to contracting, and vice versa. After all, the grass often appears a little greener on the other side.
So what’s motivating this desire to change lanes, and what does it mean for employers looking to hire new staff or attract freelancers in the coming year?
Motivation to move from a permanent role to freelancing
Almost two-fifths (39%, down from 48% in our last survey) of permanent professionals tell us they would consider switching to freelance/contract work in the coming year.
Reasons for this include:
| Higher earning potential | 76% |
| Flexibility in lifestyle | 55% |
| Exposure to the latest technology | 45% |
| Working on different projects | 35% |
| Being your own bosss | 28% |
| Ability to claim expenses against taxs | 23% |
| Others | 1% |
Those respondents who would move to freelancing for the higher earning potential would want, on average, a 31% increase in their earnings to make the switch.
Why aren't professionals considering
contract working?
The 33% (up from 28%) of AWS professionals who would not consider working as a freelancer cited reasons including:
| I like to have a fixed, predictable income | 61% |
| I prefer the security offered by a permanent role | 58% |
| I'm happy in my current role | 37% |
| The lack of workplace benefits | 23% |
| I'd find freelancing stressful | 18% |
| I've worked as a freelancer previously and didn't enjoy it | 8% |
| Others | 3% |
Motivation to move from freelancing to a permanent role
Almost two-fifths (38%, down from 57% in our previous study) of freelancers who responded to the survey would consider switching to a permanent position in the coming year.
The top 10 factors most likely to attract a contractor to a permanent role include:
73%
Job stability and security
62%
A stable income
50%
A competitive salary
50%
The new company’s values and culture align with my own
73%
Job stability and security
62%
A stable income
50%
A competitive salary
50%
The new company’s values and culture align with my own
| Remote working options | 42% |
| Career progression opportunities | 42% |
| Valuable work/feeling like your work will make a positive impact | 42% |
| A generous benefits package | 35% |
| Flexible/agile working | 27% |
| Changes to my personal circumstance | 27% |
| Remote working options | 42% |
| Career progression opportunities | 42% |
| Valuable work/feeling like your work will make a positive impact | 42% |
| A generous benefits package | 35% |
| Flexible/agile working | 27% |
| Changes to my personal circumstance | 27% |
Why wouldn't freelancers consider a permanent role?
Of the 29% (up from 18%) of contractors who would not consider undertaking a permanent role in the coming year, their reasons include:
Conclusion
There was a significant drop in the number of freelancers in this year’s survey who would consider a move to a permanent role, and predictably, this was primarily motivated by the greater flexibility (67%) and higher earning potential (52%) contract work can offer. While these benefits are particularly pertinent to the current climate, so too is the job security and stable income that comes with a permanent role, and so employers looking to recruit full-time team members this year should look to emphasize these perks to expand their potential talent pool further. To do this, highlight the successes of your business and shout about your future prospects as a fundamental part of your employer brand to ensure candidates view you as a safe and reliable option.
Of course, employers looking to hire contractors this year can also benefit from these insights: by learning what attracts permanent talent to freelance roles, you can better understand how to entice contractors to accept your offer. For another year, earning potential (76%) tops the list of motivations, suggesting money still talks when it comes to offering a contract. But it’s not just about putting your hand deeper into your pocket. With 55% of respondents reporting flexibility of lifestyle as a motivator, look to offer contractors as much freedom as possible around when are where they work—after all, this ‘be your own boss’ flexibility is likely one of the main reasons they started freelancing in the first place.
Relocation
Are professionals looking to relocate or emigrate for work?
- Yes, to another country
30%
- Yes, but within the same country as I currently live
23%
- No
35%
- Not sure
12%
Top 10 reasons driving the desire to emigrate
An enhanced quality of life is the main factor that motivates someone to emigrate.
| 1. Improved quality of life | 69% |
| 2. To experience a different culture | 51% |
| 3. Improved salary | 47% |
| 4. To pursue new experiences | 42% |
| 5. To develop/progress professionally | 41% |
| 6. Access to better job opportunities | 40% |
| 7. Access to better standard of living | 38% |
| 8. Better work-life balance | 31% |
| 9. Climate/weather | 31% |
| 10. Tax benefits | 27% |
Reasons for relocating
For those that would like to move to another city or region within their country of residence, their motivations include:
Relocation
Are professionals looking to relocate or emigrate for work?
Top 10 reasons driving the desire to emigrate
An enhanced quality of life is the main factor that motivates someone to emigrate.
| 1. Improved quality of life | 69% |
| 2. To experience a different culture | 51% |
| 3. Improved salary | 47% |
| 4. To pursue new experiences | 42% |
| 5. To develop/progress professionally | 41% |
| 6. Access to better job opportunities | 40% |
| 7. Access to better standard of living | 38% |
| 8. Better work-life balance | 31% |
| 9. Climate/weather | 31% |
| 10. Tax benefits | 27% |
Reasons for relocating
For those that would like to move to another city or region within their country of residence, their motivations include:
Our key findings report contains highlights from this year’s Careers and Hiring Guide, plus our salary tables allow you to compare your salary or benchmark your teams’ salaries no matter their role in the AWS ecosystem.
Our key findings report contains highlights from this year’s Careers and Hiring Guide, plus our salary tables allow you to compare your salary or benchmark your teams’ salaries no matter their role in the AWS ecosystem.
Our key findings report contains highlights from this year’s Careers and Hiring Guide, plus our salary tables allow you to compare your salary or benchmark your teams’ salaries no matter their role in the AWS ecosystem.
