What matters most for today’s workers

A good salary is no longer the top reason people choose a job, a recent survey found.

Employees now want work that reflects their values and lifestyle, according to Randstad’s latest Workmonitor survey.

The global study shows that flexibility, work-life balance and opportunities for growth have become basic expectations rather than perks. Almost half of respondents (44 per cent) said they would turn down a job if a company’s values did not align with their own.

A sense of belonging also ranks high. An overwhelming majority (89 per cent) of workers want their workplace to feel like a community, and 86 per cent say they perform better when they feel they belong. Toxic environments remain a dealbreaker, with 42 per cent of respondents saying they have quit a job for that reason.

Career development is another priority. Two in five (39 per cent) of workers said they might refuse a job if it offered no training or reskilling opportunities, particularly in areas like AI and emerging technologies.

“In 2025, offering a job is no longer enough. Employers must offer meaning,” the report noted, adding that companies that fail to adapt risk losing talent in an increasingly competitive market.

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