Wondering what workers want? Research gives employers some clues

There’s no denying that all the upheaval over the last few years has had an outsized effect on the workforce. Among other things, employees weathered a worldwide health crisis and its resulting economic disruption along with the rise of artificial intelligence, which to many workers seems as scary as it is promising. With so much turmoil and uncertainty, it’s not surprising employees have a lot on their minds. Researchers have been busy trying to sort everything out. Here’s a look at what a couple of efforts turned up.

Monster 2024 Work Watch Report

Monster’s 2024 Work Watch Report identifies seven key takeaways:

• Most workers surveyed said they are looking for new jobs.
• Most said their wage hasn’t kept up with rising costs.
• Burnout is taking its toll as staffing shortages increase workloads.
• Flexible work hours are vital to most workers.
• Employees are returning to the office.
• Despite technological advancements, workers aren’t always taking advantage of the tools they have available.
• Nearly three-fourths of workers said they would apply to a company even if it doesn’t have significant diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

One of the takeaways employers must not ignore is the finding that 95% of workers are looking for or plan to look for a new job this year. Just because many people are making themselves available doesn’t mean employers are able to quickly find the candidates they want.