A third of job seekers wouldn’t apply for a role at a business in a morally dubious industries

-

The main reason job seekers would not apply for a role was if the business had bad reviews online.

Nearly half (46%) stating this as the number one turn off, according to new research by CareerWallet.

The survey went on to show that nearly a third (32%) would not apply for a role at a firm in a morally dubious industry such as betting or tobacco/vaping.

Also, 42 percent of job seekers also stated they would not apply for a role at a firm that did not offer excellent staff incentives and benefits.

HRreview Logo

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

In addition, 44 percent were put off by lack of annual leave. As we continue to see the impact of global warming in the UK, one in five workers would refuse to apply for a role that didn’t have a sustainability policy

 

What is important to jobseekers?

The national survey from the leading tech firm shows the amount of research that employees are doing before applying for a role and also what is important to them. As skill shortages worsen and the number of job opportunities increase employees will have higher expectations from future employers. Many job seekers now expect the very best in staff incentives, hybrid working options and generous annual leave and robust sustainability policies.

Craig Bines, CEO at The CareerWallet Group, commented, “At CareerWallet we process millions of jobs a day and this allows us to quickly see how the job market is being impacted on a daily basis.

Our national employee survey has highlighted the detailed process employees go through before applying for roles with many researching companies online and rightly demanding a lot from their next employer including exceptional benefits and sustainability policies. As the skill shortage increases employees are in a stronger position than ever which means employers will need to continue to offer the very best to attract the best talent.”

The main reason job seekers would not apply for a role was if the business had bad reviews online.

Nearly half (46%) stating this as the number one turn off, according to new research by CareerWallet.

The survey went on to show that nearly a third (32%) would not apply for a role at a firm in a morally dubious industry such as betting or tobacco/vaping.

Also, 42 percent of job seekers also stated they would not apply for a role at a firm that did not offer excellent staff incentives and benefits.

In addition, 44 percent were put off by lack of annual leave. As we continue to see the impact of global warming in the UK, one in five workers would refuse to apply for a role that didn’t have a sustainability policy

 

What is important to jobseekers?

The national survey from the leading tech firm shows the amount of research that employees are doing before applying for a role and also what is important to them. As skill shortages worsen and the number of job opportunities increase employees will have higher expectations from future employers. Many job seekers now expect the very best in staff incentives, hybrid working options and generous annual leave and robust sustainability policies.

Craig Bines, CEO at The CareerWallet Group, commented, “At CareerWallet we process millions of jobs a day and this allows us to quickly see how the job market is being impacted on a daily basis.

Our national employee survey has highlighted the detailed process employees go through before applying for roles with many researching companies online and rightly demanding a lot from their next employer including exceptional benefits and sustainability policies. As the skill shortage increases employees are in a stronger position than ever which means employers will need to continue to offer the very best to attract the best talent.”

 

Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.

Latest news

Grant Wyatt: AI is as good as the standard you set

Most professionals treat AI like a vending machine: they click, prompt, and hope. When the output is mediocre, they blame the tool.

AI adoption accelerates as employers rethink workforce size

Employers are using AI to address staffing pressures, redesign roles and improve productivity as workforce planning increasingly incorporates automation.

Workers ‘pushing through illness’ as workplace pressure grows

Burnout, stress and working while sick are becoming increasingly common as many employees struggle to cope with workplace pressure.

‘Job centre in your pocket’ plan raises questions over role of AI in employment support

The government's AI-powered employment assistant has sparked debate about how technology should support jobseekers while maintaining trust.
- Advertisement -

Employers urged to spot gambling harms during World Cup

Employers are being urged to watch for gambling-related harm at work as the 2026 World Cup brings weeks of daytime matches and betting activity.

Habits for health: small changes that lead to bigger gains

From walking meetings to better sleep routines, simple habits can improve health, wellbeing and performance across the workplace.

Must read

From ‘sick note’ to ‘fit note’

The Government intends to launch a new ‘fit note’...

Peter Sewell: Top tips for SMEs that are going global

SMEs and start-ups are facing some serious challenges as they begin to go international far earlier in their development than ever before.
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you