The European Central Bank published a working paper comparing on-the-job search and employer-to-employer transitions across 11 euro area countries and the United States. Based on panel data from ECB and New York Federal Reserve consumer surveys, the study finds that about 13% of European workers and 19% of US workers search while employed, making employed workers more than 60% of all job seekers. Employed searchers are about six times more likely to switch jobs than non-searchers. Search motives differ sharply across regions. Job loss concerns have 1.5 times the impact of pay satisfaction on the likelihood of searching in Europe, while pay satisfaction has roughly three times the impact of job loss expectations in the US. Search is also persistent, with 50% to 60% of searchers continuing if they remain in the same job and about 40% continuing after moving to a new employer. The analysis also associates on-the-job search with improved pay satisfaction and lower perceived job-loss risk, particularly following an employer change.
European Central Bank2026-08-04
European Central Bank working paper finds job security drives on-the-job search in Europe while pay dominates in the US
An ECB working paper finds that 13% of European workers and 19% of US workers search while employed, and that searchers are about six times more likely to switch jobs. Job security is the main search motive in Europe, while better pay dominates in the US. About 40% continue searching after starting a new job.