Hiring and Retaining in STEM: What are Employee Expectations?

Insights from the latest Global Talent Trends and Insights survey, conducted in collaboration between SRG and New Scientist, have highlighted the importance of STEM employers managing, meeting and adapting to Employee Expectations and Trends and how doing so can help find, hire and retain the very best STEM talent. 

Why is it Important to Meet Employee Expectations? 

Employee expectations, and what they mean to employees – and their employers – have a vital role in creating a workforce and workplace in which people feel they can be productive, perform to the very best of their abilities, and – most importantly – feel satisfaction and happiness in everything they do. 

Managing and meeting expectations as closely as possible to what employees expect, factoring in the different and diverse values, approaches and expectations of everyone in a team, department or company, can ensure the career goals, skills and qualities of individuals align with the goals and expectations of the business and everyone within it. 

Being aligned helps to create and maintain a harmonious working environment; build relationships, enhance communications, and increase confidence; implement an element of accountability and realistic expectation setting; and, as a result, drive high performance and results – for both employee and employer.

STEM Employee Expectations and Trends

Historically, and especially in recent years, employees across the various STEM industries have been largely happy in their line of work, based on their expectations, if and how they’re met, and their experiences.

According to SRG’s Global Talent Trends and Insights survey, two-thirds of people in the Life Sciences sector are satisfied with their role – which is in stark contrast to other industries. As explained by Neil Jacques, Client Solutions Director at SRG UK, “A job in the life sciences industry is seen as an attractive opportunity because it is an interesting, innovative sector.”

Hybrid Working Trends in STEM

However, the survey’s results also suggest that change could be on the horizon in STEM industries, based on employee’s goals, requirements and expectations. For example, the results highlight a clear expectation regarding working patterns, with more than two-thirds of people asked preferring hybrid working.

But, with only about 40% of STEM roles in the UK and Europe featuring a mix of on-site and remote working, there is potential for a clash between expectations and reality which could drive a desire for change – a point supported by data from Global Talent Trends and Insights survey that shows more than half of respondents expect to have changed job role at some point in 2024.

And it’s not just hybrid working that’s high on STEM employee’s expectations list. According to Tyler Rostad of SRG North America, there has been a significant change to employee expectations since the COVID pandemic, stating “The pandemic changed people’s priorities and employers will have to take that on board.”

Top Benefits Driving STEM Employee Retention in 2024

The survey results suggest that several key benefits are integral to employee expectations; expectations that, if met by employers, could make all the difference to whether the very best talent is attracted, hired and retained within STEM. These include:

·       Generous Parental Leave

·       Mental Health Support

·       Health and Wellbeing Benefits

·       Competitive Salaries and Bonuses

·       Learning and Development of Key Skills

Global Talent Trends & Insights 2024: Employee Expectations and Trends Statistics  

For a detailed analysis and summary of our full Employee Expectations and Trends statistics, as well as valuable insights into salary expectations, the gender pay gap and equality, diversity and inclusion in STEM, download your copy of SRG’s Global Talent Trends & Insights 2024 below. 

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF THE 2024 GLOBAL TALENT TRENDS & INSIGHTS REPORT 

About the data: SRG and New Scientist surveyed over 4,000 STEM professionals working in the Engineering, Medtech, Biotech, Pharmaceutical, FMCG, Chemical, Clinical sectors as well as Academia. 55% of respondents were from the UK, 33% of respondents were from North America, and 12% of respondents were from Europe.