We've long since known about the disconnects between employer and employee, but a Monster survey shows us it might start before the relationship's ever consummated.
Take the job market right now. The unemployment rate continues to hover around the 7 percent range – although a story in the New York Post suggests it could be as much as 3 points higher than that.
But any recruiter will detail their frustrations at trying to find qualified job candidates. And on the other side of the Help Wanted sign, all those job seekers insist it's harder to land a gig than it was this time last year.
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And while job loss obviously ranks as the top reason people are out there looking for work, we're more interested in the group of people already at work – your own employees included – who are actively looking for employment, too.
When it comes to these employed job hunters, 42 percent are unhappy with their job right now, according to Monster. And a whopping 81 percent of respondents planned to actively look for a new job in the coming year. So, whether it's an increasingly disgruntled work force or just a more confident one, it's a safe bet you've got more than a few of them down the hall from you.
If there's any surprise there, maybe it's that the number isn't any higher. Or maybe that higher compensation – what we all traditionally think of when we talk about "movin' on up" – ranked fourth on the list. The employees Monster surveyed were more interested in their skills sets being properly used, wanting work they enjoyed and simply being appreciated. I guess you could call it a quality-of-life thing. In fact, any other kind of benefits – including paid time off, retirement plans and flexible schedules – rank near the bottom of the list. This new class of job hunter wants to just be happy at work and feel a little respect.
Meanwhile, we have these frustrated, hand-wringing recruiters wondering where the good resumes went. (I know a little about this side of the divide. We spent nearly a year filling a position here.)
Is this generational – signs that the less-materialistic, more self-fulfilling Millenials are taking over the work force from easier-to-please Boomers? Does it necessarily matter?
The point – or points – here is that your job's about much more than recruitment. This survey's an excellent reminder that retention is just as crucial. And on both counts, maybe it's time to start thinking past a paycheck and a dental plan.
Like a neglected spouse, today's employee – who may or may not have an updated resume on Monster's site – just wants a little more love and affection.
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