As Recruiters, we’re often told to focus on salary and perks when attracting early-career talent, but is that enough?
We have recently gathered career insights from young people between 16 and 18 here in Jersey at various stages of education and their message is clear: Career aspirations today go well beyond the traditional paycheck.
It’s not just about the money. Whilst salary and benefits remain part of the equation, young people in Jersey are placing more value on other elements of the workplace.
Our key findings:
- Work-life balance matters- a lot: Across all groups (those entering university, heading straight into employment or taking gap years), “work-life balance” consistently ranked as one of the top three expectations from future employers.
- Development opportunities are non-negotiable: Most students want structured learning, growth paths, and support for further studies regardless of their chosen sector.
- Not everyone wants to work in Financial Services: A significant number of respondents indicated this industry wasn’t their first choice, highlighting the importance of sector branding and early outreach to show the range of roles available within it.
- Culture and values shape decisions: When choosing a company, the right team dynamic and sense of purpose matter just as much as benefits.
So what does this mean for employers? If you're looking to attract and retain young talent:
- Invest in genuine development programs, not just training for the sake of it.
- Promote flexibility and wellbeing and don’t underestimate how much that matters from day one.
- Shout about your values and culture, not just your vacancies- young people want to see the bigger picture.
- We’re seeing a generation that wants to work hard and live well. The employers who can balance both will be the ones building the future workforce.
Curious about the full findings or want help tailoring your attraction strategy? Get in touch - We’d love to help. (insights@park.je)