The number of job postings on Indeed.com that include at least one employer-sponsored benefit has increased by more than 50% over the past four years as companies seek an edge in a competitive hiring market.

"Especially in sectors where benefits are not commonly offered, advertising benefits in job postings can be an excellent recruiting tool, setting a company apart from competitors," according to a Hiring Lab report.

However, this recruiting tactic may be less important in other sectors, including tech and other professional/knowledge worker industries, where job seekers may expect benefits to be offered. "In other words, benefits may be more commonly included as part of a negotiated compensation package in some sectors, and a low share of postings with benefits explicitly offered in these sectors probably does not mean benefits aren't offered at all," the report said.