3Search says 62% of professionals are ready to move in 2026

A new 3Search report finds most marketing, sales and digital professionals are considering a job change this year as workloads rise, pay growth stalls and culture becomes a bigger retention test. The findings suggest employers face a more selective hiring market, with talent focusing less on volume of openings and more on pay fairness, progression and how teams actually work.

Why it matters: - 62% of marketing, sales and digital professionals are considering leaving their jobs in 2026, according to 3Search’s Annual Pay & Hiring Report. - The finding signals retention pressure even as many employers see fewer job postings and tighter budgets. - Rising workloads, weak pay growth and culture are shaping whether people stay or move.

What happened: - 3Search released its 2026 Annual Pay & Hiring Report in London on July 16, 2026. - The report is based on responses from more than 1,400 professionals. - 52% of employers plan to recruit in 2026. - Andy Sellers, co-founder of 3Search, said employers misread the market if they assume a quieter hiring environment means a loyal workforce. - Sellers said the best people are being approached directly and are listening.

The details: - Workload has become a major push factor as teams are asked to do more with flat headcount. - Real regular pay grew by just 0.1% in the three months to April 2026, according to Office for National Statistics figures cited in the report. - Salary remains the top reason professionals consider moving, ranked first by more than 40% of respondents. - Company culture has climbed sharply as a factor in retention decisions. - Flexible working is now standard, so professionals are weighing progression and whether work fits around their lives. - Employers are seeking fewer roles with a clearer link to revenue and growth, rather than broad expansion. - Candidates want higher pay at a time when many budgets have little room to increase compensation. - Employers now expect practical AI skills, not just familiarity. - 30% of employers say their biggest recruitment challenge is identifying who is genuinely qualified. - Soft skills such as problem-solving and communication are moving up the priority list.

Between the lines: - The report points to a hiring market that is not frozen but more deliberate. - Retention now depends on more than pay alone. - Companies that can explain progression, fairness and working norms clearly may have an advantage with candidates doing more due diligence. - Sellers said competitive pay gets candidates into the conversation, but it no longer wins it.

What's next: - Employers are likely to keep hiring selectively in 2026 while competing harder for experienced talent. - Retention efforts will probably focus on pay fairness, clear progression and culture rather than broad hiring expansion. - The report suggests AI capability screening and soft-skill assessment will become more important in recruitment processes.

The bottom line: - 3Search’s message is blunt: a slower hiring market does not equal a stable workforce.