Dive Brief:

• While half of workers surveyed said they feel like they have a career, the other half feel like they have "just a job," according to a survey from CareerBuilder. The talent acquisition media, technology and services platform also found that 32% of employees plan to make a job change this year. The Harris Poll surveyed 1,021 hiring and HR managers and 1,010 full-time U.S. workers across industries on behalf of CareerBuilder. 
• Only 32% of respondents were satisfied with their career advancement opportunities and only 37% were satisfied with their company's training and learning opportunities. Most (58%) thought their company failed to offer enough opportunities to acquire new skills and help them advance in their career. A greater percentage of respondents (73%) whose companies don't offer educational opportunities or workshops outside of work hours said they would likely participate if these learning opportunities were made available. 
• Notably, 29% of employees said that they regularly search for jobs even when employed. While 78% said they aren't looking for a new role, they said they'd be open to the right opportunity.

Dive Insight:

The tight labor market, with historically low unemployment rates, allows job seekers to be more particular about the employers they choose to work for and the job offers they prefer to accept or reject. Since employers are under great pressure to compete for talent, the recruiting and hiring experience at their company should be priority, various experts have told HR Dive. Clear messaging and continuous culture conversations with both new recruits and current workers are key to standing out.

But the survey also reveals that employees want to see a future for themselves at their organizations, exemplifying why learning and development has taken off at organizations of all sizes. While employee education may have a heavy price tag, particularly for large workforces, experts have said that the investment is worth it to avoid potential costs down the line — including not being able to hire enought workers.

"The changing labor market demands a shift to modern learning, and employers will need to meet the needs of continual learning across the workforce," Jeremy Auger, CSO at D2L, previously told HR Dive, "so the choice is really between paying the price of learning or paying a price in the marketplace."

Companies like Walmart, Amazon and Lowe's have either started their own employee development programs or partnered with others to build the workforce of the future. Amazon's $700 million investment attracted attention due to its promised scope and its promise to train 100,000 employees — even though some may not stay with Amazon for the long haul. While training budgets may remain limited for many companies, surveys like CareerBuilder's show that the investment, requested by potential applicants, may be required to make it in the future talent market.