Job Security Might Be an Oxymoron

Marshall Reddy

For decades, the common wisdom has been that the road to security meant working for someone else. Get a good job with a stable company. Do your best work, stay out of trouble, and the company will take care of you as long as you care to work there.

It won’t surprise many of you that these statements are no longer considered universal truths. Or even good advice. Ever since the introduction of personal computing, technology has been eating jobs, and with the advent of AI, the pace is accelerating. Whole industries (think: travel planning, retail, tax preparation, journalism), once considered to be sustainable careers, have been replaced by technology. Technology has revolutionized every single global industry, and it’s coming for your job, too.

Even in jobs where humans do the heavy lifting, literally (logistics, manufacturing) and metaphorically (management, sales, media), the average tenure of workers has stayed consistent. In 2024, workers stayed at their jobs an average of 3.9 years. That number has remained unchanged for more than two decades. Whether you’re a senior manager or the new guy, you’ll likely have to make a career change within five years.

The data says that the longer you’re employed, the more expensive you become. Higher salaries, performance bonuses, benefits – they add up for companies. I’ve met numerous people over the past couple of years who have told me, “Last year, I won an award for being the best in the company. Six months later, I was out of a job.” Education, performance, or experience don’t layoff-proof you anymore.  

It becomes more cost-effective for companies to hire someone with less experience and more energy (read: younger) and invest in systems and training. And technology, which may perform some of the most complex tasks and make fewer errors.

My point is that as long as you are working for someone else, you’re not in charge of your own destiny. I always say that if someone else is rowing the boat, they’re deciding where you’re headed. That’s why so many workers have left their corporate jobs to become franchise owners.

As a franchise owner, you’re in charge of your future and your earning power. Franchises offer a business model for almost any kind of lifestyle and wish list. You can customize your business to meet your needs, whether they’re professional, financial, or personal. Your preferences and level of commitment will determine what kind of business makes the right fit for you. And the franchise concept takes much of the risk out of business ownership; you’ll be backed by a company with a proven business model and record of building jobs and wealth. 

I work on matching people with franchises because for many people, it’s the right entrée into business ownership. People who have been successful in corporations or large organizations like the military thrive in an environment where they have both independence and support from a successful corporation. They come to realize that they can take charge of their own destiny. 

If you’re willing to take the first small step toward real security this year, take the franchise assessment. There’s no obligation to go any further, but you’ll be able to see that there’s another way to build a future for yourself and your family.