Employers, workers searching for right fit during time of unprecedented workplace changes

The last few years have brought fundamental changes to the world of work and how workers and employers are navigating it together.

“War in Ukraine, energy price spikes, higher borrowing rates and chronic inflation are all impacting consumer confidence domestically and internationally,” Monster CEO Scott Gutz says. “As a result, the U.S. will likely enter a recession soon, if the country hasn’t already. The impact on businesses, employers and employees will be dramatic. The employment industry has felt like a roller coaster in recent years, with twists and turns caused by COVID-19, the post-pandemic boom and even the Great Resignation. With unprecedented shifts, how are workers reacting?”

The inaugural Monster Work Watch Report sought to answer that question.

“Employees are demanding greater flexibility in where, when and how they work, and salary still remains top of mind for workers,” he says. “However, managers are grasping the purse strings tighter, consolidating positions and largely struggling to meet employee needs due to shrinking budgets. Despite years of unprecedented workplace shifts, U.S. workers and recruiters remain resilient and optimistic.”

Among the takeaway messages from the report:

• Employers plan to hire. Despite economic headwinds, employers plan to hire in 2023 and are confident they will find workers.
• Doubling up. Today’s economy is pushing nearly 3 in 4 workers to take on additional jobs to increase their income.
• Flexibility remains king. Workers continue to demand control over where and when they work. However, employer sentiment is mixed on what they are willing to offer and has shifted from just one year ago.
• Salary or benefits? Employers are worried that workers will have unrealistic salary expectations, but workers report they don’t. Slightly more than half of workers believe their work wellbeing is more important than a salary increase.
• Burnout is fiery. Staffing shortages are rampant, leaving workers burned out and more than a third of them thinking several times a week about quitting their job.
• Skills gap. The skills gap remains a major challenge for employers, with fully remote positions easier to fill.
• DEI standstill? DEI efforts remain a top priority for workers, but they aren’t progressing fast enough, with 28% of workers saying a lack of discussion about DEI and a loose code of conduct are making their workplace toxic.

Related: What are HR leaders’ top priorities for 2023?

“Workers know what they want and recruiters are braced for change — and both are putting plans in place to seize the opportunity,” the report concludes . “The challenge in 2023 remains the same as it’s always been: Employers and workers are looking for the right fit, and the days of fit being defined by a simple job description are long over. The last few years have seen a tidal wave of change and experimentation. Priorities have shifted. Lessons have been learned. It’s a new era in the world of work.”