Job-hopping among 25-35-year-olds in France and the United States

: a comparative study

Abstract

Using Maertz and Griffeth’s eight-force voluntary turnover model, this study explores, identifies, and compares the primary motivational factors influencing job-hopping intentions in white-collar professionals aged 25–35 in France and the United States. A Qualtrics survey of 170 respondents used 0–100 sliders to evaluate Maertz and Griffeth’s eight forces (affective, calculative, contractual, alternative, normative, moral, constituent, behavioral), and a 5-point Likert scale for job-hopping intentions. Country-specific Ordinary Least Squares regression models controlled for age, industry, and past turnover. In both samples, higher affective commitment reduced job-hopping intentions, whereas higher calculative evaluations of alternative job opportunities increased intentions to leave. In the U.S., lower moral forces increased job- hopping, and past turnover predicted job-hopping intentions, suggesting a habit. France's work-life balance laws strengthen affective commitment, whereas the flexible American labor market encourages mobility and analytical decision-making. Self-reported data, a small sample, and missing factors limit causal inference, introduce bias, and reduce generalizability. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs, broader samples, and objective measures. In contrast to U.S. companies, which must offer transparent career pathways and ethics-oriented leadership programs, French organizations should prioritize affective commitment. Reducing job-hopping can enhance employee well-being, reduce organizational expenses, and foster workforce stability, contributing to greater societal and economic resilience. This is the first comparative application of Maertz and Griffeth’s model to examine Millennial job- hopping motivations in France and the U.S., explaining how different labor-market institutions and cultural norms shape motivations.

Date of Award	1 Jul 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Filipe Sobral (Supervisor)