Job-hopping is paying off for younger workers, while staying put is getting riskier for everyone else.

• A third of people surveyed say they want to quit soon, and it's mostly workers aged 18 to 34.
• Younger workers are watching how the economy has treated older generations and deciding not to wait around for loyalty to pay off.
• Switching jobs, especially early in a career, grows income faster than staying at one company — experts recommend changing jobs every 2 to 3 years.
• Don't quit without a safety net — have 6 months to a year of expenses saved first.

Outlook: Expect more young workers to keep switching jobs for pay bumps, while companies feel little pressure to raise pay or cut hours in response.