DES MOINES, Iowa (March 13, 2007) – While a large salary with full benefits is still the No. 1 desire of job seekers, something else is creeping higher on candidates’ priority lists – interesting work.
MEPatWORK, the online job website for HVAC professionals, polled its users in March 2007, asking visitors to identify the best incentives an employer could offer them. Survey respondents chose “Interesting Work” as often as “Full Health Benefits.” Together, the two factors accounted for 41 percent of the votes (20 percent for health benefits; 21 percent for interesting work), surpassing “A Fat Paycheck” by five percentage points.
Although “A Fat Paycheck” ranked highest in responses, the survey results clearly indicate that employees are placing more emphasis on enjoyment of their work than in previous years.
When the company surveyed MEPatWORK visitors in the fall of 2006, 55 percent of respondents selected “Medical and Dental” as the most important employee benefit; this blew the rest of the choices out of the water, including “Job Responsibilities”
“Because of the rising cost of health insurance, small businesses are finding it difficult to provide the kind of medical benefits they have in the past.” said Georgann Smith, MEPatWORK Vice President of Marketing. “Employees are accepting this hardship and are reprioritizing the qualitative benefits a company can introduce to their careers.”
Smith points out that survey respondents, while anonymous, are most likely senior workers. That’s because most MEPatWORK users are experienced. More than 80 percent have worked in their field for more than 10 years; nearly 40 percent have more than 15 years in the industry. Nearly half of those visiting the online job board have been with their current employer for more than five years.
“Our research indicates a trend of loyal employees looking for new opportunities every five years,” said Smith. “Employers can combat employee turnover by creating policies that reward senior workers – not only with money, but with new tasks, stimulating projects, and access to progressive tools and education.”
About MEPatWORK
Established by Industry People Group in 1996, MEPatWORK is the leading job website serving the HVAC, electrical, plumbing and general construction industries. MEPatWORK links qualified candidates with appealing employers. For more information, visit www.mepatwork.com.
