US workers more concerned about employability:

In the face of economic uncertainty, American workers are becoming more intentional about what they’re willing to trade off and what they won’t compromise on, according to Randstad USA’s Workmonitor Pulse survey released June 3.

The poll of more than 750 US workers found that 70% prefer greater employability over remote work, and 63% say they are unlikely to leave their jobs if asked to work on-site three or more days a week.

However, the survey found that expectations rise with a full-time office mandate. Sixty-three percent of workers would expect more flexibility with work hours, while 62% would expect more annual leave and a higher salary.

Preferences varied slightly by industry. Healthcare workers showed the strongest preference for employability over remote work at 81%, followed by those in manufacturing at 75%, financial services at 70% and transport and logistics at 65%.

The survey also found that salary is no longer the sole driver of attraction and retention. More than half of talent, 62%, prefer more control over their working hours than a higher salary. Similarly, 61% said they prefer less stress over higher pay, and 41% reported already taking pay cuts for lower-stress jobs.

While a pay raise is the top retention driver for 79% of respondents, 74% are more likely to stay in their current role for five years if their managers support professional development. Another 74% said value alignment with company leadership would influence them to stay.

“In today’s uncertain economic environment, it’s no surprise that employability remains a top priority to workers. But what really stands out in the Randstad Workmonitor survey is the growing emphasis on flexibility, well-being and setting boundaries. These factors are becoming just as critical, if not more, for employers looking to attract and retain talent,” Randstad North America CEO Marc-Étienne Julien said in a press release.

“Organizations that recognize and adapt to these evolving trade-offs will not only attract stronger talent, they’ll build the kind of trust and loyalty that drives long-term performance. Other findings in the report include:

• Pay and retention. Annual pay raises that are in line with or above inflation would encourage 90% of manufacturing workers to stay in their current role for five years, more than any other industry. Meanwhile, 81% of healthcare workers said manager support was key to long-term retention.

  
  

• Flexibility preferences. Seventy-one percent of workers in manufacturing and 71% of those in transport and logistics prefer flexibility in working hours over control of working location. The figure drops to 54% in financial services and 52% in healthcare.