The New York State Workface Survey Results (2024) have shown that despite a vast majority of workers seeing employment in New York City, a solid 7% of them are looking to find employment in WNY. The survey, conducted with a total of 2,600 businesses across the state, has revealed the precise challenges faced by the workforce, the most common barriers businesses encounter when hiring candidates, and the qualities that job seekers prioritize. As such, the report serves as a vital source of information for companies seeking to attract and retain talented employees.
What Businesses Are Looking For
In the state of New York, top non-technical skills companies are seeking include self-motivation, communication, problem-solving, timeliness, attention to detail, and the ability to receive feedback well. Additional qualities that are highly valued are personal awareness, teamwork, conflict management, English skills, customer service, and basic math skills. Just a few of the barriers standing in the way of recruitment, meanwhile, include a lack of experience or training, a gap in salary expectations, self-motivation, transportation, and childcare. Clearly, some of these requirements (such as a lack of training or transportation) are beyond the control of employers. Others, however, including providing aid with childcare, paying a fair wage, and motivating employees, are all within their grasp. All these factors need to be taken into account when a company defines and amends its work culture.
What Are Employees Saying?
The survey results showed that employees in New York are seeking paid time off, higher starting pay, and the ability to work remotely (either full-time or part-time). WYN businesses with a reluctance to embrace work-from-home models can take note of a recent Harvard Business Review study, which found that remote employees are more productive than their non-remote counterparts. These workers can save up to $4,500 on commuting costs, while also saving time they can dedicate to work tasks. Remote employees have also reported a higher level of job satisfaction than in-office workers, showing that this mode of work can guarantee a better work-life balance. Companies can support remote workers and mitigate their potential negative effects (such as isolation) by hosting meet-ups and video conferences, providing employees with a stipend for setting up their home offices, and supplying them with the necessary equipment. In the case of sales teams or employees who visit clients, for instance, a sound laptop deployment policy will ensure that employees have the necessary equipment. It will also enable companies to monitor device assignments, usage, and lifecycle for enhanced security, improved efficiency, and better data protection.
Additional Perks
Employees in the state are also eager to join companies that prioritize health and wellness. As such, organizations seeking to motivate and engage employees can adopt initiatives such as providing employees with health and fitness resources, offering gym memberships, or implementing mental health breaks. Savvy companies like Adyen, GameChanger, and Integral are all recognized for offering staff in-house wellness programs. Benefits include a fitness stipend to support personal fitness goals, dedicated meditation spaces in the office, and monthly allowances that can be used for wellness or personal needs such as childcare, language courses, or home office setups. Some organizations offer employees daily meals to promote healthy eating habits in the workplace. Yet others offer generous paid time off and unlimited vacation time. The latter supports work-life balance while also giving workers a sense of agency and motivating them to work harder to achieve their goals, rather than micromanaging or excessively controlling their work time.
Work-Life Balance and Training
Remote work and health and wellness benefits are designed to provide a better work-life balance, but there are many other ways organizations can support employees in achieving these goals. For instance, around 45% of workers are interested in working fewer days per week without a pay cut. Meanwhile, around 43% wish to have further training to upskill for future growth. They are also seeking the right to determine their own daily schedule, so long as they meet their personal and team goals.
Workers in WNY and the rest of New York state have spoken clearly about the qualities they seek in the companies they wish to commit to. Highly valued incentives include paid time off, the ability to work remotely, and opportunities for training. Companies, meanwhile, are not only seeking “on paper” skills but also soft skills like communication, flexibility, and the ability to receive feedback.
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