HispanicBusiness

SAUSALITO, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 01/03/13 -- With the unemployment rate at the lowest it has been in more than three and a half years, employee confidence appears to be stabilizing. According to the Glassdoor Q4 Employment Confidence Survey(1), nearly half (48 percent) of employees(2) (including those self-employed) expect their company's outlook to stay the same in the next six months -- up eight points from the prior quarter. In addition, of those who reported a positive change at their company in the past six months, 65% were awarded new perks (i.e. option to work remotely, casual dress, flexible work hours) and/or new stock; an all-time high since we began tracking in Q2 2011.

As company outlook steadies and perks are added, less than half (40 percent) of employees expect a cost-of-living or pay raise in the next 12 months. This remains relatively unchanged from last quarter. While at the same time, one in three (33 percent) of those employed say they will consider looking for a new job in less than a year if the economy stays the same or improves, and nearly one in five (18 percent) plan to look for a new job in the next three months.

"Now that it appears that the extreme highs and lows are behind us, the slow and conservative pace employees are seeing within their own employment situation is causing employees to evaluate if now is the time to see if the grass may be greener with another employer," said Rusty Rueff, Glassdoor career and workplace expert, who ran global HR departments at Electronic Arts and PepsiCo before co-authoring Talent Force: A New Manifesto for the Human Side of Business. "While the past few years have tilted to an employer market, we're leveling out and employees are finding their position to stand upon. It is now more important than ever for companies to engage with employees to find out what will keep them satisfied and strategize new ways to attract and retain their workforce, or face an impending growth in their turnover rate."

The Glassdoor Employment Confidence Survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive, monitors four key indicators of employee confidence: company outlook, job security, salary expectations, and re-hire probability. The Q4 2012 survey also evaluates job search expectations and factors most likely to influence a job candidate's decision on whether or not to accept a job. The survey takes into account feedback from 2,249 U.S. adults, among whom 1,470 are employed or unemployed but looking for work.

Salary, Location & Career Growth Top Factors Influencing Job Search Decisions
As a new wave of job seekers enter the market, employees (including those self-employed) and unemployed job seekers are, perhaps not surprisingly, reporting that salary and compensation are the most important factors that influence their decision to accept a job offer. Location and career growth opportunities also top the list of top factors that impact their decision. Interestingly, company reputation is one of the top five factors job seekers consider when a job offer is presented -- nearly one in five (17 percent) consider a company's reputation when choosing whether or not to accept a job. Other key factors are summarized below:

•73% Salary/compensation •55% Location/commute •30% Career growth opportunities •22% Amount of work •17% Company reputation •16% Company values •10% Relationships with managers •10% Frequency of travel required for the job •7% Relationships with peers •6% Senior leadership •2% Corporate social responsibility