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.
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.
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.