Your work, or your life? Priorities are starting to shift, survey says

A new survey finds many professionals — especially younger ones — more focused on their personal lives than their careers.

Career placement firm Robert Half found more than half of those surveyed have switched their focus from career to lifestyle, especially those between 18 and 34.

The numbers: 54 percent said they are more committed to their personal lives now than they were one year ago. Other commitments didn't come close. Those who said they were more committed to their careers than a year ago only came up at 38 percent. Their current job? 34 percent. Their company? 31. And their boss? 29.

Rich Singer, director of permanent placement for Robert Half in Woodbridge, said the firm surveyed people between the ages of 18 and 34, and 61 percent of those people were more committed to their personal lives, versus 49 percent who were 35 or older.

He the firm defined personal life as "any time that you are not working or committed to your job, whether it is working from home or on the job site or in the office."

"Basically, quality of life, of which many millennials have become totally focused on in this generation," Singer said.

Singer said the priorities used to be job and then family, in that order. "Today, the millennials are juggling both," he said.

He added: "People have lives outside of work, especially with two wage-earners now in the family. Both spouses are usually working. Their commitment to their family is that they have to, juggle things around a lot more than they did years ago."

And ever-greener job market grass outside the firm's fence has some professionals ready to jump ship if they see a better job situation.

"As the economy has added jobs and has gotten better and they have gotten multiple opportunities, a lot of professionals feel more secure, and are turning their focus to personal fulfillment and their personal lives," Singer said.

Singer said companies and firms can be a little more understanding with flexible time. Some offer abbreviated work schedules or telecommuting.

Joe Cutter is the afternoon news anchor at New Jersey 101.5