According to a recent study conducted by Glassdoor, 28.5% of job applicants are looking to relocate to a new metro area. Whether it is within an existing company or in search of new opportunities, there is no doubt that the urge to relocate is growing within today’s workforce. Understanding who is moving, why they are moving, and where they are moving to can help companies better cater to their current and potential employees.
Who’s Moving?
According to the Glassdoor study, three main factors currently affect the likelihood that an employee will want to relocate. The first is gender. Men are 3.3% more likely to search for jobs outside of their current metro. If your company is hoping to bring women to your company, you may have to do more outreach.
One of the most influential factors in metro relocation is age. Younger people are far more interested in transferring locations than their older counterparts. So, if you are searching for more experience, you might need to entice applicants with other incentives.
Another factor that plays a role in job relocations is education. Those with a master’s degree are almost 5% more likely to move. This may be due to job security or opportunity, but it is something to consider. Perhaps those with other educational backgrounds feel like they cannot move. Providing a sense of security and opportunity in the workplace could change that.
Why are US workers moving?
People want to enjoy their work. That is why one of the most common items on a metro mover’s checklist is a great workplace culture. Having just a single extra star in your company’s online rating makes applicants 2.5% more likely to apply for a position at your company.
Money is actually farther down on most applicant’s checklists. However, it is still an important factor. Companies that offer applicants $10,000 more per year generate around 0.5% more interest.
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Where are US workers moving?
When you factor in the young age and high education of most metro movers, there really is not much surprise that they want to live in multi-faceted areas. If you are located in one of these three most popular regions, then your company will probably see a greater spike in applications.
1. California
Home to 12.4% of metro movers, San Francisco, California, is the most popular city amongst Glassdoor users. San Jose and Los Angeles are also in the top five. Interestingly enough, most workers who move to these cities come from other places in California.
2. The Northeast
Four of Glassdoor’s top 10 cities for metro movers are located in the Northeast. Popular locations include Washington DC, Chicago, Seattle, and Boston. Unlike metro movers in California, though, workers seem to transfer to the Northeast from all over the country.
3. Texas
Texas is another largely popular place to relocate. Between the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Austin, the state accounts for 5.2% of Glassdoor’s metro movers.
Each of these locations has something unique to offer to workers. From music culture to desirable geography, this is one of the more complex factors associated with metro movers. People often have personal and unique reasons for choosing a specific location. Tapping into what makes your city unique could help your business attract more applicants.
How UrbanBound Can Help
It is clear that there are a number of people moving cities for a job, and showcasing your company’s culture is one of the best ways to attract talent. UrbanBound’s candidate experience software enables companies to attract leading job candidates by promoting the best aspects of your company, location and culture. Find out how you can educate and excite your candidates about their potential new job and home.
