The latest Randstad Employer Brand survey, conducted among 4,000 New Zealanders, has some unexpected results!
It seems like working from home during the lockdown caused a shift in people’s approach to values and priorities in New Zealand. For the first time in 10 years, work-life balance has overtaken salaries and benefits (number one for the past decade) as the most important driver for those looking for a job. Job security took third place, followed by a pleasant work atmosphere (fourth) and good training (fifth).
Randstad New Zealand’s Country Manager, Katherine Swan, says the survey findings tell a nuanced story about how employers have stepped up and supported employees since the pandemic began: “Being able to work remotely, keeping people employed and ensuring good health practices appear to have increased loyalty. We’re also seeing a growing return to employee confidence for exploring new opportunities as New Zealand bounces back from the worst of the pandemic reinforcing the importance for organisations to continue building brand strength to retain and attract new talent during the recovery.”
The company rated highest for work-life balance was Christchurch-based EBOS Group Limited.
The research also showed that 66% of Kiwi employees feel more loyal than a year ago and the number of those looking to change roles, or who have done so over the past 12 months, has dropped.
Employees who changed employers are more likely to choose businesses that are giving back to the community and doing something good. The Department of Conservation ranked highest for giving back and half of candidates said they would not work for a company with a bad reputation – even with a pay increase.
Seek, Trade Me and job boards are still the biggest go-to-source for roles online but Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Snapchat are rapidly rising, according to the survey. Of those using social media, more than double the number of candidates searched Instagram over the past year compared to the year prior while Twitter jumped from 12% to 29% for the same period. Facebook experienced an increase of 3%. Snapchat more than doubled from 12% to 27%.
