Job switchers tend to make more money: Study

Sometimes you have to leave to get ahead.

July 27, 2019, 7:20 AM

Want to get a raise? The answer may be in getting a new job.

Americans who switch jobs are getting bigger raises than those who stay with the same company, especially if you're in tech or construction, according to new survey results from the ADP Research Institute.

PHOTO: Business people are seen working in a startup office in this undated stock image.
Business people are seen working in a startup office in this undated stock image.
Xavier Arnau/Getty Images

The report's findings come during a period of historically low unemployment that favors employees, and an increase in laws that ban employers from asking employees' salary histories.

On Friday, New Jersey joined New York, California and several other states banning inquiries into job applicants' salary history.

Workers who switched jobs saw average wage growth of 5.3% compared to their colleagues who remained at their former jobs from a year earlier, according to the ADP report.

"It is definitely the case," recruiter Amy Cole told ABC News. "If someone would like to make a significant leap, the truth is they'd have to leave their company."

However, it's generally looking good for everyone.

PHOTO: Business people are seen in this undated stock image.
Business people are seen in this undated stock image.
Peopleimages/Getty Images

People with jobs, switching jobs and new workers are all averaging raises of about 5% or better on an individual basis, compared to last year.

"More broadly, wage growth has averaged 3.7% so far in 2019 compared with a 2.8% average in 2018 and is consistent with a tightening labor market," study's authors wrote.