Job Security More Important Than Pay and Benefits for University Students Worldwide, KPMG Survey Reveals

NEW YORK, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- As a result of the economic downturn, university students rate job security at a potential employer ahead of pay and benefits, according to a survey conducted by KPMG, a global network of firms providing audit, tax and advisory services.

The KPMG survey found that more than 75 percent of those polled -- over 350 university students involved with programs sponsored by Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), a global non-profit group active on college campuses -- considered job security their top priority when searching for a job as a result of the uncertain economic environment.  

In addition, over 50 percent of respondents would be interested in working internationally immediately after graduation, according to the KPMG survey.  The survey was conducted at the recent SIFE World Cup held in Berlin.

"The global economic downturn has evidently shifted the way students are thinking about their careers," said Shaun Kelly, vice chair-tax at KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, and current treasurer and executive board member of SIFE.  "With many recent graduates still seeking employment, the interest that today's current students express in employment overseas for their first job shows that they are open to going wherever the opportunities may be.  No doubt they also recognize that overseas opportunities can lead to great experience and training necessary for success in today's global marketplace."

The global economic downturn is also having an impact on students' views on career path options, the KPMG survey indicates.  Some 69 percent said they are now more likely to study for a post-graduate degree than look to get a job immediately after graduation, and most (67 percent) said they were more likely to work for a public or non-profit organization than a corporate business due to the downturn, according to the KPMG survey.

Factors Important to Choosing Employer

According to the KPMG survey, factors most important to students when choosing future employers included:

• Real opportunities to learn new skills and develop themselves personally and professionally;
• Challenging and exciting work; and
• Working with and learning from talented colleagues.

"Students tell us that personal development and enrichment is clearly a top priority when selecting an employer, as is using their business skills to help the communities where they live and work," said Kelly.

"The community involvement, leadership and career initiatives developed by organizations such as SIFE play an important role in helping their participants develop skills that set them apart from the average university student," he added.  "Employers that focus on making their organization a great place to work and build a career will likely be more attractive to students seeking their first job."

Other Survey Results

Among other key findings:

• The majority of the respondents (55 percent) said they might stay with their first employer for two-to-four years.
• Facebook is the most regularly used social media platform among university students and also was identified as the social media vehicle they would most likely use when researching information about a future employer.  

About KPMG International

KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 144 countries and have 140,000 people working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International, a Swiss cooperative. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such.

About KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.us.kpmg.com), is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International").  KPMG International's member firms have 140,000 professionals, including more than 7,900 partners, in 146 countries.

SOURCE KPMG International; KPMG LLP