Sportspeople has previously conducted research to look at the benefits of stating salary in job advertisements at the Sportspeople Jobs Market. In earlier surveys we found the number of views for advertisements where salary was stated was up to 40% more than those advertisements where salary was not stated.
Recently I came across an article from the Employment Office Australia that stated 95% of Australian workers believe salary figures should not be inclusive of superannuation. The survey also reinforces the notion that workers would instead prefer to see base salary and superannuation as separate figures.
In light of this figure we created a survey (April 12’), that posed the question, “Would you prefer Salary Figures be: Inclusive of Superannuation or Base + Superannuation?" Not surprisingly, 100% of our respondents chose Base+Superannuation. So what drives this need to separate the two?
According to the research performed by The Employment Office, 31% of people perceive superannuation as an “obligatory payment that is the responsibility of their employer rather than part of their salary package.” Interestingly, it seems as though this particular attitude resonates more towards Gen Y who often forget that superannuation is a part of their total salary package. Research also shows that 41% of younger generations view superannuation as a means of achieving financial goals, with less concern placed on goals such as purchasing a home or car.
The challenge employers now face is how to attract younger candidates who are professional, skilled and reliable yet whose priorities are very much focused around how much money they will be earning.
Therefore, as the jobs market becomes further saturated with younger candidates and Gen Y move up through the ranks, it is important that employers attempt to meet these needs when advertising a job. One way to do this is by avoiding using references such as “attractive package” or “package negotiable” which in the eyes of the reader, only creates ambiguity.
RM – Sportspeople
First Published 2012