Aon Hewitt Study Reveals Nearly Half of Millennials Intend to Pursue New Jobs in 2015

Research shows gaps in what employees' desire compared to what their current environment offers

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Feb 10, 2015, 10:23 ET

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., Feb. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when employers are looking to attract and retain talent, new survey data from Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc (NYSE: AON), shows that 43 percent of Millennials plan to actively look for a new job in 2015.

Largest Gaps in Millennials' View of their Current and Desired Work Environment

According to Aon Hewitt, Millennials feel that what they value in an organization is different than the priorities of their current workplace. Most employees believe their employers' current values focus on more organizational-oriented themes, including teamwork, profit and customer satisfaction. When asked what qualities are the most desirable in an organization, Millennials cited more relationship-oriented values, including work/home balance, employee recognition, loyalty and respect. Other values with large perception gaps between current and desired include open communication, professional growth, fairness, humor/fun, clarity, and well-being (physical/emotional/mental/spiritual).

"It's not surprising that employees in their mid-twenties and thirties are more likely to job hop as they look to advance their careers and improve their pay and benefits," said Ray Baumruk, employee research leader, Aon Hewitt. "However, our research shows there is a clear disconnect between what Millennials expect and desire from employers, and what their employers are actually offering. This gap is negatively impacting the engagement and retention of this generation, and may be one of the primary reasons why Millennials will be looking for new opportunities in 2015."

Aon Hewitt recommends that employers clearly define their employment value proposition, emphasizing the most compelling and differentiating features of the organization. It's important to focus on the areas that really matter to Millennials, like offering career development opportunities and a flexible work environment. Using this insight will help deliver a better employment experience, attract new employees and retain top talent, drive higher levels of engagement and improve business performance.

When asked to rank what specific areas they would most like to see improved in their current workplace to increase their overall engagement or satisfaction, the top responses among Millennials were:

Pay and benefits (51 percent)
Good career or development opportunities (39 percent)
Performance recognition (38 percent)
Open/complete communication (34 percent)
Flexible work environment (33 percent)
Fun (30 percent)
Having a strong management and leadership team (30 percent)

"Beyond wanting competitive pay and benefits, Millennials expect to feel appreciated for their efforts, see opportunities to advance, be more empowered in the workplace, and also have the flexibility to balance their lives at work and home," said Pam Hein, partner, Communication Consulting, Aon Hewitt. "Younger employees want to work in an environment where information flows freely and authentically and where people know they can count on one another. The data show there is a significant opportunity for employers to offer a more unique and compelling work experience that will match what Millennials want, and in turn increase retention long-term."

Aon Hewitt's Inside the Employee Mindset™ study surveyed more than 2,500 U.S. employees working at companies with a least 1,000 people to determine their perspectives and attitudes about their employment experience―including values and culture, work environment, engagement, total rewards and communication. The survey examined the differences of employee preferences and expectations across generations, including Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers.

Learn more about the Inside the Employee Mindset™ study at aon.com/employeemindset.

About Aon Hewitt
Aon Hewitt empowers organizations and individuals to secure a better future through innovative talent, retirement and health solutions. We advise, design and execute a wide range of solutions that enable clients to cultivate talent to drive organizational and personal performance and growth, navigate retirement risk while providing new levels of financial security, and redefine health solutions for greater choice, affordability and wellness. Aon Hewitt is the global leader in human resource solutions, with over 30,000 professionals in 90 countries serving more than 20,000 clients worldwide. For more information on Aon Hewitt, please visit www.aonhewitt.com.

About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is a leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 66,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative and effective risk and people solutions and through industry-leading global resources and technical expertise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world's best broker, best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance intermediary, best captives manager, and best employee benefits consulting firm by multiple industry sources. Visit aon.com for more information on Aon and aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon's global partnership with Manchester United.