Pay remains priority as the prolonged period
of economic uncertainty continues
HANOVER,
Md., June 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aerotek, a
leading workplace solutions provider in manufacturing, logistics,
construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance, announced today
its latest survey of job seekers shows Americans are prioritizing
pay, job security and engagement as they endure longer job hunts in
an uncertain economy.
The survey collected feedback from 1,433 job seekers
representing various industries, shedding light on their evolving
priorities and workforce challenges.
Job Seekers Are Becoming More Motivated by Job Security as
the Prolonged Period of Economic Uncertainty Continues
While
workers continue to prioritize pay in their job search, job
security is on their minds as well. When asked to choose from a
list of eight motivators, the number of workers reporting job
security as the most important increased by 5% compared to spring
2023, and the number of workers reporting pay as most important
increased by 4%.
Most Important
Motivator When Deciding to Accept a New Job
|
|
Spring
2023
|
Spring
2024
|
Pay
|
36.5 %
|
40.6 %
|
Job Security
|
14.3 %
|
19.7 %
|
Opportunities to
Learn
New Skills
|
13.9 %
|
11.5 %
|
Potential for
Career
Advancement
|
14.9 %
|
10.9 %
|
A positive or
supportive
company culture
|
10.8 %
|
7.9 %
|
The work is
interesting
or challenging
|
4.8 %
|
5.6 %
|
Starting
date
|
4.0 %
|
3.1 %
|
The job is helpful
to
society
|
0.9 %
|
0.8 %
|
Despite rising wages, workers have a mostly negative feeling
about their financial situation. That includes workers who
responded to Aerotek's survey saying they received a raise in the
past year — a sign that inflation and economic uncertainty may
be negating wage gains.
A staggering 81.2% of respondents feel the same or worse about
their financial situation compared to this time in 2023. Of 486
respondents who received a raise in the last year, 71% still feel
the same or worse about their financial situation.
How would you
describe your financial
situation compared to this time in 2023?
|
All
respondents
|
Those who received a
raise
|
Better than
2023
|
18.8 %
|
29 %
|
Same as 2023
|
33.6 %
|
36 %
|
Worse than
2023
|
47.6 %
|
35 %
|
Workers Are More Likely to Stay If They Can Create Social
Connections in the Workplace
According to a recent
Gallup survey, employee engagement in the U.S. has dropped to its
lowest level in more than a decade.
Aerotek's survey findings reflect that engagement is a priority
for job seekers, as 73.2% report that engaging with coworkers
improves their feelings about a job, and 69.2% said they are more
likely to stay at a job that promotes social connections.
Based on these insights, fostering a supportive and
collaborative work environment can help managers boost employee
retention and increase overall job satisfaction.
Despite Job Search Challenges, Workers Maintain Optimism in
Finding Quality Employment Amid Economic Concerns
While the
number of available jobs remains relatively high, workers looking
for new opportunities are filling out more applications and waiting
longer to hear back from employers:
|
Fall
2023
|
Spring
2024
|
Job Seekers Who
Completed 100+ Job Applications
|
10 %
|
13.8 %
|
Respondents Who Feel
Their Job Search Experience Has
Slowed Down
|
53.6 %
|
59.0 %
|
*Compared to results
from Aerotek's previous Job Seeker Survey
|
Employers may be adopting a more cautious approach, waiting
longer to find the right hire. Unsurprisingly, 56% of job seekers
identify the economy as their primary challenge in the job search.
Despite this economic apprehension, 58% of respondents remain
optimistic about securing quality employment.
For more detailed findings and insights, view the report here.
To learn more about Aerotek and its staffing and services
solutions, please visit Aerotek.com.
About Aerotek
Aerotek®
Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing,
logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We
provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the
challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in
Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a
unified network of over 250 offices across North America, supporting more than 14,000
clients each year. Aerotek is an operating company within Allegis
Group, a global leader in talent solutions. To learn more,
visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.
About the Research
Aerotek's most recent Job
Seeker Survey was conducted as an independent online survey. 1,433
job seekers were asked about their career ambitions and employer
preferences. Respondents were located in the U.S. and completed the
survey between April 22, 2024 and
May 3, 2024. The survey targeted job
seekers who have applied for work since January 1 and were seeking jobs in the sectors
Aerotek serves, including manufacturing, robotics and automation,
facilities and maintenance, distribution and logistics,
construction and other industries.
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SOURCE Aerotek