Record-breaking interest in new job offers - specialists and managers feel confident on the market

The latest, 12th edition of the Antal report "The activity of specialists and managers in the labor market" shows that the interest in looking for a job by specialists and managers has increased to a record extent. The number of invitations to recruitment processes was also increased by 60%. Currently, the most common reasons for changing jobs are bad management (53%) and a proposal for a higher salary (50% of respondents). 

Antal published a report on a sample of 1,046 specialists and managers between June 30 - July 18, 2022. It shows the current trends in the labor market, such as: attitudes in terms of looking for a job, the number of offers that candidates receive, motivation and conditions to change employment, or readiness to relocate. 

The labor market is still the employee's market 

The Antal survey showed a growing number of job offers for specialists and managers. They receive an average of 8 job offers per year compared to 5 in 2021. The war in Ukraine did not affect companies' demand for new employees, and the pandemic and related economic restrictions only caused temporary turmoil. 

Among specialists, the most desirable currently are IT specialists and managers, representatives of administration and employees from the HR industry. Although an upward trend is not expected in the near future, the number of currently sent job offers will remain at the same level - comments Michał Borkowski, Sector Manager, Antal Finance & Accountancy. 

Almost 70% of respondents received increases, which means an increase by 10 percentage points compared to last year. The share of these high salary increases is also growing - over 20% year on year. The candidate's market is booming and employees benefit from it. Inflation gives them additional arguments in the negotiations. 

Does salary still have the greatest impact on job change? 

Compared to last year, it increased significantly, by as much as 18 pp. the percentage of specialists and managers actively looking for work amounted to 48%. Almost half of the respondents remain open to job offers, but do not take specific action to change. On the other hand, the percentage of respondents who do not actively look for a job, but read the offers (from 54% in the previous edition of the survey to 45% in the current one) and those who ignore them (from 16% in the previous edition of the survey to only 7%, decreased). 

There is a direct correlation between satisfaction with the current professional situation and activity on the labor market. Among people who believe that their situation on the market has definitely improved in the last year - only 23% are actively looking for a job. Among those who say that it has improved - 49% are already browsing the offers, and among those who definitely do not see any pluses - 76% - comments Maryla Aftanasiuk Lisiecka, Business Unit Director, Antal Sales & Marketing. 

Candidates are looking for more financially attractive job opportunities in the face of rising costs of living due to inflation and high interest rates. They expect an average wage increase of 20-30%. However, the proposal of a higher salary is a motivation to actually change jobs for only half of the respondents. The Antal report shows that bad management in the organization is at the top of the list of reasons for changing jobs. This factor was the reason why 53% of respondents left the company. This indicates the need for changes in enterprises in terms of good communication with employees, management style and work culture. Bad work atmosphere or increasing stress related to the performance of duties can be a significant demotivator in career development. 

The future will show whether the increase related to the number of jobseekers is a temporary trend, aimed rather at checking what the market looks like today, or whether the phenomenon of Great Resignation will reach us from overseas. The trend, which has so far been associated mainly with the labor market in the United States, concerns the wave of dismissals at the initiative of employees, which can be attributed to the lack of state support and unsatisfactory working conditions. On the other hand, deteriorating economic indicators may increase the importance of stabilization and security, which will translate into a reduction in the submitted terminations, comments Maryla Aftanasiuk Lisiecka, Business Unit Director, Antal Sales & Marketing. 

The activity of women in the labor market is lower 

According to the preliminary data of the Labor Force Survey1, in the first quarter of 2022, the majority of economically inactive people were women (61.4%). The Antal report shows that compared to 51% of men, only 44% of women are actively looking for a job. There is also a difference between gender and the frequency of participation in recruitment processes. Compared to 66% of men, less, because 53% of women, participate in job interviews once a year or more. Women are promoted less often, on average 2.8 times and men on average 3.6 times. The highest pay rises can often be obtained when changing jobs, so this relationship may result in a higher gender pay gap. 

Gender stereotypes have been preserved for centuries, and although they are slowly fading into oblivion today, their consequences are still visible. For years, I have observed a lack of self-confidence in many women involved in recruitment processes. Many of them do not recognize their own agency and attribute their achievements to a coincidence. That is why it is so important to motivate and support women's professional development even more actively and to provide the tools needed to develop and open up to new opportunities. Organizations implementing the policy of diversity & inclusion and increasing the presence of women in managerial positions shape the labor market and do it in a socially responsible manner and in line with the goals of sustainable development of the United Nations - says Artur Skiba, President of the Antal Management Board. 

About the report 

The Antal study "Job-Seeking Activity Among Managers and Professionals" was carried out using the CAWI method on a sample of 1,046 specialists and managers between June 30 - July 18, 2022. 

The cyclical report "The activity of specialists and managers in the labor market" shows the current trends in the labor market, such as: attitudes in terms of looking for a job, the number of offers that candidates receive, motivation and conditions for changing employment or readiness to relocate. 

Download report: https://en.antal.pl/insights/report/activity-of-specialists-and-managers-on-the-labour-market-12th-edition