Gartner HR Research Finds 63% of Prospective Candidates Received a Job Offer in 3Q24
Job Offers and Job Market Confidence Decreasing
For candidates who did accept a new position, only 29% thought they could find a better job if they kept looking, down from 43% last year. The percentage of candidates who said it is easy to find a job with their preferred employee experience dropped from 48% in July 2023 to 29% in September 2024.
Higher Pay and Career Growth Prioritized
When deciding to accept an offer, candidates most often cited higher pay in their decision (52%), followed by more opportunities for career growth (49%), and better work-life balance (48%). Total rewards – PTO/sick leave, health benefits and parental leave – was cited less as a deciding factor in evaluating job offers.
Despite candidates prioritizing compensation, overall pay increases for new employees plateaued in 2Q24 and 3Q24 after steadily rising for the last year. Fewer candidates reported receiving a signing bonus with 23% of candidates receiving a bonus in Q3 of this year compared to 37% during the same period last year.
Candidates making lateral moves received a 15% pay increase, down from 21% in the beginning of 2024, while those who took a higher-level position received a 29% increase in pay.
Pay Transparency Expectations Grow
“Pay transparency legislation has greatly expanded candidates’ access to pay information,” said Kohn. “With compensation as a top decision driver, organizations should be clear about what they are willing to offer new hires and how offers are determined.”
