Employment Trends: Favoring the Employee

This month The Society of Human Resources (SHRM) reported that "professional and technical positions are the most difficult to recruit for, as they were in 2006, and the employee-driven market is shifting the negotiating power to job candidates". In fact, "The Edge Report", the result of an online survey conducted by Robert Half International, portrays a clear vantage point for the employee when it comes to job hunting and and negotiating a better compensation package.

Among the findings:

• Since 2005, the job market has continued a steady trend toward favoring the employee
• Highly skilled professionals and technically skilled workers are particularly in demand and difficult to recruit
• More employers are implementing new policies and procedures to drive retention such as: salary increases, improving the office environment, and providing career pathing and career development assistance to employees
• More than half of the workers surveyed are more likely to negotiate better compensation with a new employer now versus 12 months ago
• Flexible work arrangements are important to attracting employees, as are other perks including stock purchase plans, telecommuting and on-site fitness facilities.

For the full report, go to:

www.rhi.com/downloads/RHI/rhi-us/InvestorRelations/pdf/EDGE_REPORT_2007.pdf