Yoh Survey: Excluding a Raise, Flexible Work Environment and Better Benefits Top the Reasons Employed Americans Would Accept a New Job Offer

PHILADELPHIA, April 11, 2018 -- For recruiters and companies looking to hire and retain employees in a climate of low unemployment and an acute skills shortage, knowing why employees may choose to entertain other job offers is critical. According to a new survey of more than 800 employed U.S. adults conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Yoh, a leading international talent and outsourcing company and part of Day & Zimmermann, better benefits (50%)—e.g., paid time off, healthcare options, 401(k)—and a flexible work environment (42%)—e.g., working from home, having a better schedule—were the top reasons, excluding money, that employed Americans say they would leave their current job for a new one.

Results found that just 15% of employed Americans say they would not leave their current job for any reason, indicating that a significant majority of people are open to a job change if the right offer came along. In short, other than the possibility of higher wages, the promise of better benefits (50%) and a flexible work environment (42%) would encourage a number of Americans to listen to other job offers.

Findings include:

• A larger proportion of employed women than men would consider leaving their current job for a flexible work environment (44% vs. 39%), and a higher-level position may be more important for employed men as they are more likely to cite leaving for this reason than women (40% vs. 30%).
• The least common reasons employed Americans said they would consider a job change were for a better commute (24%) and more perks such as onsite gyms, daycare, or dry-cleaning (27%).
• Employed millennials (those aged 18-34) are more likely to report they would leave a current job for “a field of work I’m more interested in” than those aged 45+ (43% vs. 24%).
• Of all age groups, those aged 35-44 had the highest proportion of employed Americans (57%) indicate better benefits as a reason they would leave their current job for a new one. Second was the millennial age group (those aged 18-34) with 53%, followed by 50% of 45-54-year-olds, 48% of 55-64-year-olds, and 27% of those aged 65+.

“As a specialized recruiting company, we see this first-hand every day. Those with top skills have choices, and these findings indicate that benefits and workplace flexibility offerings should be clear and compelling when speaking with a prospective candidate about a position,” said Emmett McGrath, President of Yoh. “It is absolutely critical that recruiters identify early in the process each job seeker’s desires when considering a new role, and pair them with opportunities that fit their specific career and lifestyle needs.”

Key survey takeaways for companies to consider when hiring:

• The remote work future is here: Employed Americans may be more open to a job that’s further from home but offers remote work capabilities, rather than a job close to home but mandates more consistent on-site work. Over 2 in 5 employed Americans (42%) would switch jobs for a flexible work environment, while less than one quarter (24%) would switch for a better commute.
   
• Tempting perks are a fading trend: A few years ago, many companies began offering interesting perks like onsite gyms, daycare services, dry-cleaning, on-site baristas and more to keep employees engaged and content. However, most employed Americans (73%) would not leave their current job for a job that offers those trendy perks, while many seem to be in favor of leaving for a job that offers better traditional benefits like better retirement options, healthcare options, and vacation time (50%).

ABOUT YOH
For more than 75 years, Yoh has provided the talent needed for the jobs and projects critical to our clients’ success. Our Specialty Practices recruiting experts find high-impact professionals in Aerospace and Defense, Engineering, Health Care, Life Sciences, Information Technology, Interactive Entertainment and Telecommunications. For clients with workforce management needs, our Enterprise Solutions team delivers large-scale workforce solutions, including Managed Services, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Vendor Management Systems, Independent Contractor Compliance, and Payroll Services. For more information, visit www.yoh.com.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Braithwaite from March 27-29, 2018 among 816 employed U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Joe McIntyre at [email protected].

Media Contact
Joe McIntyre
Braithwaite Communications
(215) 564-3200 ext. 112
[email protected]