Long-Term Career Security No Longer A Public V Private Sector Decision

There is little to choose between the long-term security of a public or private sector career, according to the results of the latest employment survey from staffing services company, Select Appointments.

Given the choice between working in the private or public sector, most jobseekers donít have a preference. The widely held preconception of the public sector as a íjob for lifeí is beginning to wane, as 66% of respondents felt that this was now not the case.

In a survey of more than 1200 people from a variety of industries, 39% had no preference between the public and private sector. Coupled with the finding that only a third of respondents still saw the public sector as a íjob for lifeí, this suggests that people are now taking jobs on their individual merit, rather than according to which sector they are in. This is good news for British organisations of all types, as jobseekers are open-minded about the type of organisation they choose to work for.

The public sector has historically provided more flexible and generous benefits packages than their commercial counterparts in order to attract candidates, for example often offering 30 days leave per annum, instead of the average 22 in private industry. The private sector has started to follow suit, by considering packages that are centred around improving the work-life balance.

According to Kay Fletcher, Operations Director at Select Appointments, Itís interesting to see that people no longer see the public sector necessarily as offering a job for life. Career decisions seem to be based on what the individual role and organisation can offer them, rather than on a preference to work within a specific industry sector.