TD Magazine Article
Out of the Loop
Career growth strategies for certain age groups require immediate attention.
Fri Aug 01 2025
Mid- and late-career professionals are increasingly concerned about their growth trajectories, states Perceptyx's 2025 Employee Experience Trends report. Analyzing data from more than 20 million employees across various industries, the report highlights that four of the top five drivers of employee retention directly tie to career development opportunities.
Coined the midlife development crisis in the text, the phenomenon includes decreased employee perception of career opportunities as they age. Consider this: Seventy-five percent of Generation Z workers believe in their career prospects within their current organizations. But baby boomers' confidence is just 59 percent.
Satisfaction with training and development opportunities also diminishes with age, indicating that companies may not be providing adequate support for staff in the middle stages of their careers. According to 2025 Employee Experience Trends, individuals who realize clear development paths are three times more likely to remain with their current employer. Conversely, two out of five respondents cite a lack of career growth as a primary reason for their disengagement.
Return on investment for existing programs, however, is low. A 2025 upGrad Enterprise report, Skilling Smarter, shows that three-quarters of employees engage in upskilling only when their companies mandate it, suggesting a lack of motivation or awareness of available development opportunities. Furthermore, more than half of workers believe their managers will not support their career growth.
Addressing the midlife development crisis requires employers to implement targeted development programs that acknowledge midcareer employees' needs, explains 2025 Employee Experience Trends. That includes providing clear pathways for advancement, recognizing the value of their experience, and offering personalized coaching and mentorship opportunities. By doing so, companies can enhance employee satisfaction and retention as well as leverage the full potential of their experienced workforce.
