Money and job progression are among top career priorities for men, while women favour good workplace practices and ethical standards, new research has shown.
he research, ‘2021 Top Career Preferences Among Irish Students’, was conducted among just over 10,000 students across business, IT, engineering, natural sciences, humanities, law, and health.
Male students ranked high future earnings, a clear path for advancement, a competitive base salary, and professional training and development among their top career preferences this year.
In comparison, female students ranked secure employment, ethical standards, respect for employees, and having an inspiring purpose in the same positions.
A friendly work environment ranked as one of the most common preferences for both cohorts, ranking in the top three employment considerations for both groups.
It was in fourth place for men in a similar survey carried out in 2020, but has now climbed to second place for them in the 2021 one.
Employers’ respect for their workers was ranked in fifth place for women, but in ninth place for men.
The survey, by global employer branding experts Universum, part of e-recruitment platform IrishJobs.ie, found job security has also become one of the most important career attributes for students this year.
It follows the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic and ranks in the top three for both sexes.
“Our robust research, which was conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, shines a light on the evolving aspirations of the young talent in Ireland, a cohort that employers are keen to attract,” said Steve Ward, UK and Ireland business director for Universum.
“However, as the jobs market in Ireland begins to recover, it is becoming increasingly evident that the needs and desires of this talent pool have shifted. Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the main considerations for students this year is job security, with both male and female students ranking this in their top-three career attributes.
“However, despite being united on the importance of secure employment in the current environment, there is an evident discrepancy between the motivations of male and female students overall.
“According to the data, female students are drawn towards workplace culture and practices, while males tend to show a preference for salary and career progression in their priorities.
”For employers who are striving to improve the gender balance in their workforce, it is important that they understand the varying motivations of both cohorts,” he added.
Mr Ward said implementing a compelling employer brand requires thoughtful consideration and needs employers who are prepared to commit resources to understanding the nuances and values of the different demographics and reflecting these nuances in their company culture.
“This means integrating these values into the DNA of the business in a meaningful and authentic way, as opposed to just allowing them to merely live in an employee brochure,” he explained.
The top-six career priorities for men and women, according to the survey were:
Men 1) High future earnings 2) Secure employment 3) Friendly work environment 4) Clear path for advancement 5) Competitive base salary 6) Professional training and development.
Women 1) Secure employment 2) Friendly work environment 3) High future earnings 4) Ethical standards 5) Respect for its people 6) Inspiring purpose.
