The legal sector advertises more workplace perks per job than any other UK industry, while engineering ranks near the bottom despite having the highest number of live vacancies, according to new analysis from Reward Gateway | Edenred.
Key takeaways
- Benefits and flexibility can help employers stand out where skills are scarce.
- Engineering has high demand but comparatively few advertised perks.
- Salary matters, but perks, wellbeing and flexibility play a growing role in retention.
“Pay might get a candidate’s attention, but benefits, flexibility and wellbeing are increasingly what make them stay at companies.”
Chris Britton, People Experience Director, Reward Gateway | Edenred
Reward Gateway | Edenred analysed 8,714 UK job adverts across 37 industries, measuring the number of workplace perks advertised per 100 jobs. The research counted benefits ranging from private healthcare, pensions and bonuses to flexible working and additional holiday.
The legal industry came top with 163 perks per 100 jobs sampled. Accountancy placed second and was also the highest-paying sector in the analysis, with an average advertised salary of £61,265. Charity came third, with 157 perks per 100 jobs.
High demand, fewer advertised benefits
Graduate training and internships offered the fewest perks, with 39 per 100 jobs sampled. Manufacturing came next at 58.98, followed by engineering at 59.13.
Engineering had 6,975 live roles, more than any other sector analysed, but remains one of the weakest industries for advertised perks. Reward Gateway | Edenred noted that 76% of engineering employers say they struggle to recruit for key roles.
Chris Britton said the findings challenge the assumption that salary alone wins the war for talent. The analysis suggests that employers competing for scarce skills could benefit from making their overall employee offer clearer and more visible in job advertising.
