Salary and benefits still top priority for jobseekers, above work-life balance: survey

Salary and employee benefits are still the top conditions that workers look for in a job, a survey showed. (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP)

SINGAPORE — Salary and employee benefits are still the top conditions that jobseekers and workers look for in a job, a survey showed.

Seven in 10 respondents ranked “attractive salary and benefits” as the most important “employee value proposition” they look for in an employer, according to a report by recruitment company Randstad.

The findings of the 2022 Employer Brand Research in Singapore survey released on Wednesday (1 June) considered responses from 2,705 respondents aged 18 to 64 in Singapore.

While salary and benefits ranked the highest, it dropped by four per cent from last year.

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Work-life balance ranked the second at 69 per cent, while job security, a pleasant work environment and career progression opportunities ranked third, fourth and fifth respectively, at 55 percent, 55 per cent and 54 per cent.

Other factors that were ranked lower included a strong management, the financial health of the company, good training, location and option to work remotely or from home.

(Source: 2022 Randstad Singapore - Employer Brand Research Report) (2022 Randstad Singapore - Employer Brand Research Report)

While work-life balance ranked as the second most important factor for respondents, it is also one of the most unmet expectations. When asked how Singapore employers are perceived in supporting work-life balance, respondents ranked it eighth out of 10.

In Singapore, work-life balance is mostly defined by respondents as work location and working hours. About 55 per cent said that they want their employers to provide flexible work arrangements to maintain a good work-life balance. This is followed by 43 per cent who wanted healthcare benefits and 42 per cent that wanted fair compensation.

Waking up early in the morning and taking the train during peak hours to work are unpleasant experiences that make going to work a dread for most Singapore workers, said Jaya Dass, managing director for Randstad Malaysia and Singapore.

“Working parents have to go back to juggling between their kids’ school schedules and their workload as well. Furthermore, some people are more productive when working from home as they are not distracted by impromptu conversations in the office," Dass added.

She concluded that employers should continue offering remote and hybrid work options to their employees.

The survey also found that women prioritised work-life balance more than men, with 72 per cent female respondents seeking work-life balance support from employers, compared to only 66 per cent of men.

Commenting on this, Dass said that firms that "commit to making equal pay adjustments as well as offer flexible work and job sharing options can help encourage more women to stay in the workforce, without having to sacrifice their personal lives.”

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