In the face of economic uncertainty, American workers say they value job security over the ability to work remotely, and they value flexibility of work hours and location over a higher salary, according to a study from Randstad USA.
The results come from Atlanta-based Randstad’s nationwide “Workmonitor Pulse” survey focused on employee workplace preferences and trade-offs. The findings highlight shifting workforce preferences that will be valuable for employers to understand as they navigate attracting and retaining talent in the current market, the firm said.
On the first point, over two-thirds (70%) of respondents said they prefer greater “employability”—the ability to stay skilled, relevant, and secure—over the ability to work remotely, and 63% of respondents say they are unlikely to leave their jobs if asked to come into the workplace three or more days a week. However, if asked to return to the office full-time, workers would have higher expectations—in exchange, 63% of workers would expect more flexibility with work hours, and an equal number (62%) would expect more annual leave days and a higher salary.
The value placed on employability varies slightly by industry. Healthcare workers (81%) cited the highest preference for employability over the ability to work remotely, followed by workers in manufacturing (75%), financial services (70%), and transport and logistics (65%).
On the second point, the results showed that over half (62%) of talent prefer more control over their working hours than a higher salary. The survey also indicated that workers are moving away from high-stress positions, with almost two-thirds (61%) of respondents preferring less stress over higher pay, and nearly half (41%) saying they have already taken pay cuts for lower-stress jobs.
Flexibility preferences, however, look different across industries. By sector, workers in manufacturing (71%) and transport and logistics (71%) prefer flexibility over their working hours rather than control over their working location, compared to just over half of financial services (54%) and healthcare workers (52%). These findings emphasize that for industries where remote work isn’t an option—such as manufacturing and transport and logistics industries—flexibility is still achievable, primarily through adaptable scheduling.
“In today’s uncertain economic environment, it’s no surprise that employability remains a top priority to workers. But what really stands out in the Randstad Workmonitor survey is the growing emphasis on flexibility, wellbeing, and setting boundaries. These factors are becoming just as critical, if not more, for employers looking to attract and retain talent.” said Marc-Etienne Julien, CEO of Randstad North America. “Organizations that recognize and adapt to these evolving trade-offs will not only attract stronger talent, they’ll build the kind of trust and loyalty that drives long-term performance.”
The data in the study’s global edition covered 5,250 respondents in seven markets and across 17 sectors, while the U.S. edition focuses exclusively on the insights and trends specific to the responses of over 750 American workers.
