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Talent Market Drivers Since the Start of COVID: US Report

LinkedIn data on what talent wants, what employers need, and what we’re learning in the Great Reshuffle

The single biggest change in candidate priorities is the rapidly growing importance of flexible work arrangements, which spiked just as many companies were preparing to return to the office.

An inclusive workplace for people from underrepresented groups also grew more important, rising sharply after the murder of George Floyd and resulting international Black Lives Matter protests. 

Work-life balance was already a priority for candidates at the beginning of the pandemic, and it continues to be important as remote work becomes more common.

That may be because companies aren’t delivering what talent wants. While work-life balance and compensation are the two most important priorities for candidates, employee surveys reveal that companies score poorly on those priorities relative to other factors measured. 

Companies are doing well when it comes to flexibility — but for all the benefits of remote work, there’s a dark side: employees are more likely to struggle with work-life balance.

Looking forward to a post-pandemic future

The Great Reshuffle is here: employees are rethinking their priorities, companies are reconsidering their needs, and everyone is learning to “build the plane as we fly it.” We’re all adapting to constant change, making decisions amid uncertainty, and exploring new opportunities.

And although the talent market always ebbs and flows, many of the changes we’re seeing today are unlikely to be undone. Hybrid work is here to stay, digital transformation is only accelerating, and people are building durable new skills for the future.

We’re just beginning to understand the full impact of the Great Reshuffle. But once the dust finally settles and the pandemic is far behind us, those companies who rose to meet this moment will reap the rewards in the talent market.