Employees these days want flexibility. In fact, if they don't get it, they're likely to look elsewhere for work.

So finds the 2018 Emerging Workforce study from Spherion Staffing Services, which finds that not only has the percentage of contingent workers risen substantially just in the past year—from 15 percent in 2017 to 29 percent this year—but the percentage of workers who say they'll only work for a company that “offers agile employment opportunities” is a substantial 41 percent.

And don't think they're going to sit around waiting for you to change things up; 23 percent say they're likely to look for a new job in the next three months, and 33 percent say they're likely to do so in the next 12 months.

“In the current job market, with the unemployment rate the lowest the U.S. has seen in nearly two decades, finding the right mix of talent—and then retaining that talent—is crucial for a company,” says Sandy Mazur, Spherion division president. “What employees are looking for and what employers need from their employees continue to evolve in the age of increased digitization and cultural and generational shifts.”

That means companies need to stay on their toes. While they already see many of the advantages of a contingent workforce, such as staying nimble during economic ups and downs (85 percent), the ability to protect their full-time workforce (79 percent) and a higher-quality workforce (72 percent), they also view its challenges with distaste. After all, managing a contingent workforce is more complex, say 44 percent of companies, while 51 percent find it tough to stay within compliance and regulatory requirements while trying to engage and integrate contingent workers.

In addition, there are some serious disconnects between employer and worker. Millennials in particular are on the lookout for new jobs, with 48 percent saying they'll likely look for a new job in the next three months and 56 percent in the next 12 months. The reasons? No matter their generation, workers are unhappy with current salaries, growth opportunities and office culture. Overall, workers don't feel that their employers are putting in the effort to retain them, with 20 percent saying their employers are making less effort.

In fact, 40 percent of employees are unhappy with their current salary, while 83 percent believe that today's market should bring them higher pay. But 61 percent of employers think their employees are happy with their current salaries—and 68 percent say they know they have to increase wages to stay competitive, but claim they're financially unable to do so at present.

Employees are looking beyond salary, too, with 86 percent considering the experience they have during the hiring process; 85 percent evaluate the number of programs/benefits a company offers to help maintain work-life balance and 78 percent consider the connection with a company's culture and values. Just 45 percent say that they're very or extremely satisfied with their ability to maintain life/work balance.

Diversity and equality also play a role, with just 49 percent of companies and 45 percent of employees describing their workforce as extremely or very diverse. When it comes to equal pay, 63 percent of male employees say they believe employees at their company earn equal pay for a job, regardless of gender, but just 49 percent of female employees agree.

Instant Insights /

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