Engineering and professional services firm WSP has been named as the most attractive employer in New Zealand within the construction and engineering sector, according to the 2023 Randstad Employer Brand Research.
Recognised for its reputation, financial health and job security, WSP also achieved the double accolade of being named as one of the Top 20 Most Attractive Employers in New Zealand, ranking fifth overall.
The 2023 Randstad Employer Brand Research explores 4302 New Zealand workers’ perceptions of employer brands, providing a unique understanding of employee and job seeker preferences.
Other high performing construction and engineering companies were Beca (#2) and Ventia (#3).
Beca was recognised for being financially healthy, providing opportunities for career progression and its good reputation, while Ventia (including Ventia, Visionstream and Broadspectrum) was perceived as attractive due to its financial health, job security and career opportunities.
Randstad New Zealand country director Richard Kennedy says while it remains a challenging time due to ongoing talent shortages and rising material costs, the construction and engineering sector remains a significant contributor to the New Zealand economy.
“This is being fuelled by major Government infrastructure projects and recent weather events like Cyclone Gabrielle leading to high demand for specialist construction and engineering talent,” Kennedy says.
Strong employee brand
“This underpins the importance of having a strong employee brand that will deliver stand-out and competitive advantages when attracting and retaining talent.”
Commenting on WSP being recognised as the fifth most attractive employer in New Zealand, managing director Ian Blair says the business and what it does is about people.
“We have smart, talented people who are committed to creating what matters for future generations across New Zealand.
“At WSP we work every day to provide an inclusive environment where our people can bring fresh perspectives and creativity to be at their best in helping solve New Zealand’s environmental and infrastructure challenges,” Blair says.
Work-life balance, salary and benefits remain priorities
The research also reveals what Kiwi job seekers look for when it comes to choosing where to work.
Notably, workers are prioritising work-life balance (#1), attractive salary and benefits (#2) and good training (#3) during today’s uncertain economic climate.
This is a significant shift compared to the previous two years where work-life balance remained steadfast as the most important priority for Kiwi job seekers.
Perhaps, unsurprisingly, three quarters of workers are placing increasing importance on non-remuneration benefits, and exploring personal career growth options in areas including reskilling (67%) and upskilling (76%).
Recruitment and HR specialist Randstad New Zealand believes the findings align with New Zealand’s market sentiments that show that only 16% of workers changed employers in the last six months compared to almost a quarter (24%) last year.
