Candidate Survey - June 2010

Dear Business Partners,

Grafton Recruitment, in the Central and Eastern European region, conducted a thorough survey among 6 647 respondents focused on their current feelings about the labour market situation and conditions. We used our databases of candidates as well as active job seekers registered on the Grafton web site. The survey was conducted in 6 countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Lithuania).

The demographic sample of the jobseekers in the region was very similar. 2/3 of respondents were in the age group between 21 and 40. Around 70% are employed but currently looking around for opportunities.

There are a number of areas worth highlighting. The majority of respondents are of an opinion that the economic crisis is not over yet and consistently in all 6 countries 40% of them are convinced that the market will only improve in two years time.

For most salaries in the region were either kept at the same level or reduced in the last 12 months. However, according to our respondents, salary increases were noted by 22% in Czech Rep., by 29% in Slovakia, by 29%, in Hungary, by 37% in Poland, by 33% in Romania and by 12% in Lithuania, which are an interesting reflection of each market and the reality of salary increases in each one of them.

Depending on the country, it seems that there are up to one quarter of currently employed individuals waiting for an improvement in the market, in order to change their jobs. It confirms that the current attrition rates employers are experiencing will not remain the same for the long term.

I found an interesting comparison of the reasons to look for a new job:

Three main reasons by preference:

Czech Rep: Job content, financial conditions, Job security
Slovakia: Financial conditions, Job content, Career growth
Hungary: Financial conditions, Job content, Career growth
Poland: Financial conditions, Career growth, Job content
Romania: Career growth, Financial conditions, Job content
Lithuania: Financial conditions, Career growth, Job content

It is also interesting to note that the corporate social responsibility policies of an employer are important for 70-80% of people in Hungary, Romania and Lithuania. Only 54% in Czech, 55% in Poland, and 65% in Slovakia.

I believe you will find some additional interesting information concerning candidates’ willingness to accept fixed term contracts, their willingness to commute extended distances or relocate for job opportunities.

We in Grafton Recruitment want to provide our customers with the most up to date information on the labour market which reflects a dynamically changing environment. I trust the survey outcomes will help you with your hiring strategies and give you insight to the jobseekers’ current mindset.

Yours sincerely,

Milan Novak
Managing Director CEE
Grafton Recruitment

CEE Survey EN-June2010