Aerotek's Latest Job Seeker Survey Finds Job Security Rivaling Pay as a Motivating Factor

Candidate responses show emphasis on stability, career advancement and skill development

HANOVER, Md., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aerotek, a leading provider of workplace solutions for manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance, announced the release of its latest Job Seeker Survey. The survey reveals results around job security, the ideal job search experience and why some workers are seeking a second job.

Despite facing complex challenges such as recession fears, geopolitical conflicts and natural disasters, the 2024 labor market demonstrated remarkable resilience. To better understand job seekers' sentiments in the current labor climate, Aerotek conducted its Job Seeker Survey: Q1 2025. By surveying over 3,200 job seekers, Aerotek gained valuable insights into their preferences and motivations for accepting a new job. This report, the first in a series being published in 2025, highlights the survey findings.

The survey's findings reveal four key insights:

Job Seekers Are Finding Jobs Faster and With Higher Confidence
Compared to the fall of 2024, the number of job seekers who feel better about finding a quality job increased 15 percent. Job seekers believe there are better opportunities available, and companies looking to hire should focus on communicating the key motivators to attract workers and stand out among their competitors.

Job Security Is Rivaling Pay as a Motivator for Job Seekers
The gap between pay and job security as a motivator for accepting a new job has never been narrower in the survey series. For job seekers whose employment status is laid off, temporary, student or transitioning to a new industry, job security outranks pay in importance.

Seeking a Second Job Is About More Than the Money
Over 20 percent of survey respondents are currently looking for a second job or have held a secondary job in the past year. While pay is the leading motivator for those seeking a second job, 83 percent of job seekers seeking secondary employment are also looking for a way to learn new skills or enter a new industry.

Personal Interaction Is Key to a Positive Application Experience
More than one in three respondents have been offered a job without speaking to a company representative. While that might sound intriguing for employers, over 70 percent of job seekers emphasized the importance of personal interaction during the hiring process.

"In 2025, job seekers are navigating a dynamic landscape. Confidence in job prospects is rising, yet job security is becoming as important as pay, and the pursuit of a second job is driven by more than just financial needs," said Bill Ruff, vice president, strategic sales at Aerotek. "The findings from our latest Job Seeker Survey offer valuable insights for employers aiming to attract and retain top talent. Emphasizing pay, career advancement and skill development are important ways to address job seekers' priorities today."

For more information about Aerotek's Job Seeker Survey and to view the detailed findings, click here.

To learn more about Aerotek and its staffing and services solutions, please visit Aerotek.com.

About the Research
Aerotek's Job Seeker Survey was conducted as an independent online survey to understand what job seekers want. More than 3,200 job seekers were asked about their career ambitions and employer preferences. Respondents were located in the U.S. and Canada and completed the survey in February 2025. The survey targeted job seekers who have applied for work since January 2025 and were seeking jobs in the sectors Aerotek serves, including manufacturing, robotics and automation, facilities and maintenance, distribution and logistics, construction and other industries. When you need help building and managing your workforce, contact us.

About Aerotek
Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 14,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an operating company within Allegis Group, a global leader in talent solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.

SOURCE Aerotek