Is Lifetime Employment Still Possible?
50 years ago, it was common for people to work one job for their entire professional life. Now, job changes every 2-5 years is common. Is it even possible to work for the same company for your full career?
Carter Cathey
10/20/20251 min read
Is lifetime employment still possible?
Reflecting on my father-in-law's career, he secured his first real job at 18-19 and dedicated nearly 50 years to the same company until retirement. His loyalty was matched by the company, allowing him to work in various locations including Germany, New York, Houston, Dallas, Singapore, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia. He was able to provide for his family, putting his kids through college, purchasing homes and cars, traveling the world, and saving for retirement... All with one job.
In contrast, I’ve worked at 10 different companies since college.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median tenure for US workers in 2024 is 3.9 years, down from 4.1 years in 2022. For white-collar workers, the median tenure is slightly higher at 4.8 years.
According to my own informal poll on Linkedin, with 66 respondents, 65% have had between 4-10 adult jobs in their career.
Are 50-year jobs merely campfire stories now? Are they relics of a bygone era, or could they still exist in today's workforce? What are your thoughts?