Breakdown across the ages reveals changing priorities when it comes to work and play 15% of workers are currently looking for a new role.
With research revealing that workers in sales rate work-life balance and job satisfaction as more important than salary, recruitment specialist REED is urging employers to give consideration to their recruitment and retention strategies.
The poll of over 1,600 workers by YouGov, in association with the launch of the REED 2015 Salary Guides, questioned workers on their attitudes to work, career aspirations and regrets.
What really matters at work
Within the findings, REED identified key trends which indicate how UK workers’ priorities change over the course of their career – which could have a significant effect on the talent management strategies of many UK firms.
With 41% of workers claiming that good job satisfaction is the single most important aspect of working life, followed by the need for good work-life balance (27%), it’s no longer just about the salary package.
Results revealed – what matters most across the ages
18-24 Salary and benefits (38%)
25-34 Job satisfaction (31%)
35-45 Work-life balance (31%)
45-54 Salary and benefits (25%)
55+ Job satisfaction and work-life balance (joint top – 32%)
Despite 15% of workers looking for a new role, satisfaction rates are very high amongst sales workers, with 88% describing themselves as satisfied.
While just over one in ten workers (13%) have stayed loyal to the same employer over the course of their career, almost twice as many (22%) have moved workplaces more than seven times. When asked why they changed employer, workers reported better prospects for promotion (42%), better salary (41%) and boredom with their current role (30%) as the top three motivators.
Jason Culloo from Reed Sales, said: “In a candidate-led market such as this, employers need to think hard about how they attract and retain staff. What this research shows is that although salary is very important, now we’re out of the recession it’s no longer just about pay – employers need to consider many other factors, such as flexible working and how they can offer the greatest job satisfaction.
“Our research shows that in the last 12 months, 28% workers received some form of pay rise, and almost a quarter (24%) received a bonus. However, with 18% having received no benefits, the fact that 15% are planning to look for a new role over the next 12 months, is hardly surprising. Employers need to start taking action and think wider than just the salary package.”
