Job seekers in 2015 have more options than ever thanks to an improved economy, hiring across all sectors, and companies having trouble filling jobs due to a lack of skilled workers. Workers can change positions, ask for higher salaries and go back to school to improve various skill sets because of a highly competitive labor market.
A recent employment survey aims to ascertain what job seekers want the most based on the behaviors of people in the vibrant, growing job market. In 2015, 35 percent of survey respondents thought it was harder to find a job, compared to 60 percent of respondents to the same study two years ago. Obtaining employment has gotten easier, but that's not the only remarkable trend in the report.
Job seekers who report good job satisfaction remain open to new career opportunities across all ages, industries and education levels. As many as 45 percent of those seeking employment may want something new and different that delivers higher levels of satisfaction in the workplace. These workers may find themselves more in tune with passions that drive them while earning a living. Thanks to a wide range of companies now hiring, workers have the freedom to look around as they earn money through their current places of employment.
Prospective employees have increasingly stayed at the same position for shorter time periods. This especially rings true in a competitive labor market with higher wages. Job hopping has become the new normal because 63 percent of workers have been with two or more companies from 2011 to 2015, a span of five years. The reason for the frequent changes revolves around seeking better opportunities elsewhere for more pay. A full one-third of millennials change jobs every one to three years, and more than half of millennials with software or technology jobs shift every one to five years. The technology sector seems to represent a market more competitive than most as mobile computing, wearable devices and interconnected options continue to infiltrate the consumer consciousness.
The employment study shows money matters to job seekers. As many as 32 percent of respondents claim higher compensation is the number one reason for finding another job, and 61 percent list higher pay as the main reason for accepting a new position once it's offered. Issues such as work-life balance, growth opportunities and flexible working arrangements were much less significant, although other studies of millennials' working habits seem to indicate otherwise.
Technology plays a large role in the lives of contemporary job seekers. More than half of millennials surveyed want to see job listings without needing to register, and one-third of millennials want apps that apply for jobs directly from a tablet or smartphone. People finding a job prefer Facebook as a social media platform, but employers and recruiters turn to LinkedIn to find professional employees.
The employment survey seems to show that employers must learn to cater to these types of job seekers; otherwise, top talent may go elsewhere. Businesses should increase the availability of technology to help match employees with employers, and any tech advances could make the job search process simpler and more cost effective.
Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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