The Slovak labour market is undergoing a major test. The latest Candidate Motivation Survey by Talent Solutions, involving 2,752 respondents, reveals a clear trend: employees are more open to change than ever before.
While last year 66% of people were not looking for a job, this year the situation has reversed. As many as 54% of respondents are actively considering changing jobs.. What is behind this increase, and how can companies respond?
Salary as the main driver of the market
The financial aspect dominates all categories of the survey. For 84% of candidates, salary level is a key factor when choosing a new offer, which is an increase of 10% compared to last year.
Pressure on household budgets is also confirmed by dissatisfaction with current remuneration:
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63% of respondents express dissatisfaction with their current salary.
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Although 43% of companies increased salaries this year, half of employees did not notice any change on their payslip at all.
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Low salary is also the most common reason for leaving a current job.
The battle of benefits: 13th salary versus flexibility
The survey brought a close contest between the two most desired benefits. The top position was taken by the 13th 13. and 14th salarypreferred by 49% of people.Flexible working hours came just a few votes behind.
Interesting differences can be seen when looking at gender:
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Women place particular emphasis on flexibility and home office, reflecting their effort to balance work and family life.
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Men, with the exception of the youngest generation, prefer direct financial bonuses and extra salaries.
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Working from home, or home office, remains important for 39% of respondents.
Why do people resign?
Apart from money, management plays a critical role. More than half of respondents cite the way people are managed as a reason for changing jobs. If managers fail in communication or motivation, employees with more than 10 years of experience, who made up the largest group in the survey, have no problem moving to a competitor.
Willingness to relocate for work is growing
Slovaks are becoming increasingly mobile, although still with certain limits. As many as 69% of respondents are willing to relocate for work.
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However, the majority, 70%, prefer commuting or relocation only within their own district.
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Willingness to move abroad for work has increased significantly, with as many as 31% of those willing to travel considering it.
The importance of education is declining, competencies matter
Modern employers should pay close attention. The survey confirms a global trend: the importance of formal education is declining in favour of real competencies and experience. For companies, experience and the ability to perform the job should be the primary factors when selecting future colleagues.
How to retain talent in your company?
Talent Solutions has been operating on the Slovak market since 2002. We help companies not only with recruiting top talent, but also with payroll process audits and the development of managerial skills.. If you want to succeed in the competition for the best people, you need to listen to their needs — from fair remuneration to a modern leadership style.
You can find the full survey HERE: Candidate Motivation Survey 2024 final
