Dive Brief:
- Retail workers want a job that fits into their lives, rather than the other way around, new research from ManpowerGroup Solutions and the Retail Industry Leaders Association revealed. More than 2,000 retail employees were surveyed in the What Retail Employers Need to Know about Candidate Preferences.
- More than half the respondents (52%) cited benefits as a top factor when making employment decisions. More than other industries in the survey, most of retail workers (92%) ranked employee-employer trust as their number one factor in deciding where to work.
- Retail workers are looking for flexibility, an attractive benefits package, a chance to upskill and higher wages, Melissa Hassett, vice president of client delivery at ManpowerGroup, said in a statement. Branding is also top of mind for job seekers, with a majority of respondents citing the organization's reputation as an employer selling point when considering accepting an offer.
Dive Insight:
With retailers and shipping companies looking at massive hiring projections this holiday season, the competition promises to be ferocious. With unemployment at its lowest in nearly 50 years, wages are rising across many retail categories in the struggle to meet hiring goals.
Offers on the spot and creative hiring events are on the rise, as businesses look to snatch up talent before the competition. More candidates also feel comfortable "ghosting" employers by not showing up for the interview, or, if hired, not reporting to work on day one. A recent survey shows candidates are fine with ghosting employers in this tight market, pressuring some recruiters to over-hire just to hedge their bets.
A strong employer brand and a positive candidate experience could be tipping points in favor of one seasonal job over another. Recruiters will need to assure every touch point of the recruitment process, including all forms of digital communication, is strong to bring in the talent they need.
