Only 53% of Construction Workers Happy with Current Job

LONDON, ENGLAND, April 27, 2013 (Press-News.org) Construction sector workers are the third least happy employees in the UK, according to new research by Randstad CPE, the specialist recruiter.

- Construction workers less happy than UK general working population
- Across the UK competitive salary replaces job security as top employment requirement as job market improves

Construction sector workers are the third least happy employees in the UK, according to new research by Randstad CPE, the specialist recruiter. Just 53% of construction workers describe themselves as extremely happy or happy in their current jobs, compared to a UK average of 61%.

However the survey of 2000 UK adults revealed that construction workers are slightly happier with their current pay than the average UK worker. Currently 45% are extremely happy or happy with their pay, compared to the UK average of 43%.

Those working in the Utilities sector are the happiest with their jobs and those in Insurance are happiest with their current pay, according to the survey. Accountants are the least happy with their current jobs and those in Retail least happy with pay.

The importance of satisfaction with pay is revealed by additional research by Randstad of 7000 UK adults which found that competitive pay and benefits is back as the most important requirement of a new employer. Job security, the top factor for the past three years, has fallen to third place. This reversal mirrors the improvement in the UK jobs market reported in the most recent Government statistics.

In 2012, 27% of people said long-term job security was the most important factor in choosing to work for a specific company - more than any other issue. But this has now fallen to 16%, the lowest it has been in three years. Meanwhile, 18% of respondents said a competitive salary and employee benefits was the most important factor in picking an employer, compared to only 11% in 2012 and 12% in 2011.

Owen Goodhead, managing director of Randstad Construction, Property and Engineering recruitment agency, said: "Construction employees aren't the least happy in the UK, but the impact of the recession has certainly taken its toll on morale. Firms understandably had to tighten their belts through the worst of the downturn, but cutting corners in pay is not a long-term strategy, and risks the workforce's morale and skill base for when business picks up."

Owen Goodhead continued: "2012 was a tough year for the job market with confidence falling even further than in 2011. That was reflected in people's priorities - salary packages weren't as important to potential employees as the financial health of a business. Over the course of the last twelve months, that's changed dramatically and the UK's workforce appears much more bullish. In 2011 and 2012 the number one priority for people was job security - now it's salaries and benefits. With skills shortages intensifying as the UK's restrictive migration policies take hold, firms need to work harder to attract potential candidates, especially those with niche skill-sets. It's no longer enough to rely on rock solid financials if you want to attract top talent in the property, construction and engineering sectors."

The research of current perceptions of employers was carried out for the 2013 Randstad Awards which revealed the most attractive UK companies to work for. Co-operative retailer John Lewis Partnership triumphed as the UK's most attractive company to work for with 53% of people who know of the company saying they would like to work there. Retailer Marks & Spencer took second place.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Randstad Awards

In the UK the Randstad Awards rated the country's 150 largest companies - collectively employing more than 3,500,000 people in the United Kingdom - via a poll of 7,000 British adults between the ages of 18 and 65. Overall in 2013, 120,000 people across 14 countries were surveyed as part of the Randstad Awards. Respondents were asked to pick out the companies they knew, then indicate whether they would like to work for these companies, before evaluating each potential employer in ten categories. The awards were launched in Belgium in 1999, although this is only the third time UK workers have been polled. Companies are unable to nominate themselves or determine the categories or criteria for entry.

PRESS CONTACTS

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Adam Jones, Senior Account Executive, a.jones@wriglesworth.com 020 7427 1403

About Randstad CPE

Randstad CPE is part of the Randstad group, one of the leading recruitment & HR services providers in the world with a top five position in the UK and a top three position in fifteen countries including the US, France and Germany.

In the UK, Randstad's business lines serve the public and private sectors across Accounting and Financial services; Business Support; Construction, Property and Engineering; Education; Health and Social Care; Interim Management and Search; Human Resources; IT; Legal; Retail; Sales, Student and Worker Support and In-House and Managed Services.

At the end of 2012, Randstad had 1,750 corporate employees in the UK, working in 203 locations. UK revenue in 2012 was EUR799 million. Randstad Holding nv was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Diemen, the Netherlands and listed on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam. For more information see www.randstad.co.uk and www.randstad.com.