money at work

The pay gap between people who move and people who stay got wider this year.

In December 2025, job changers' pay grew 6.6% against 4.4% for stayers. By August 2026 it was 7.3% against 4.4%. The premium for moving is growing again.

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Slide 1 of 7: The pay gap between people who move and people who stay got wider this year.

Slide 2 of 7: The job-changer premium grew between December 2025 and August 2026, while stayers' pay growth did not move.

Slide 3 of 7: Employers are paying more to bring people in than to keep the people they have.

Slide 4 of 7: You do not have to move to benefit from the gap. You have to know it exists.

Slide 5 of 7: Averages hide a lot, and your industry may look different.

Slide 6 of 7: How to raise it without threatening to leave.

Slide 7 of 7: Save this for your next review.

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Sources: ADP National Employment Reports, December 2025 and August 2026.

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