Italian managers seek career changes due to professional dissonance

career dissonance Italian managers leadership trends corporate culture executive recruitment

Research from the Hunters Group Observatory conducted in the first half of 2026 reveals a growing phenomenon among Italian managers known as ‘career dissonance.’ This occurs when successful professionals achieve their goals and receive recognition but no longer identify with how their roles are performed.

Approximately 64% of managers and executives report that their primary motivation for seeking new employment is not related to salary or job titles. Instead, they are looking for organizational environments that align more closely with their leadership styles and current life stages.

Furthermore, over 70% of surveyed candidates prioritize factors such as corporate culture, decision-making autonomy, leadership quality, and the sustainability of the business model over gross annual salary (RAL). This shift is occurring amidst technological acceleration and the rise of artificial intelligence, which are redefining leadership by emphasizing relationship-building and change management over technical skills.

Entities

Hunters Group · Joelle Gallesi

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Over 70% of interviewed candidates prioritize corporate culture, decision-making autonomy, leadership quality, and business model sustainability over gross annual salary. quotidianodifoggia.it · lamilano.it · www.notizie.it
[● 3 SOURCES] Data was collected during the first half of 2026. quotidianodifoggia.it · lamilano.it · www.notizie.it
[● 3 SOURCES] Approximately 64% of managers and executives state their main motivation for changing jobs is not salary or job title. quotidianodifoggia.it · lamilano.it · www.notizie.it
[● 3 SOURCES] Managers are seeking organizational contexts more consistent with their leadership style and life stage. quotidianodifoggia.it · lamilano.it · www.notizie.it