With over 45,000 university students and approximately 22,000 young professionals participating in the survey, Universum announces every year results across key sectors categories including business and commerce, technology and engineering, and natural sciences.
The research also generate a range of in-depth insights that shed light into how talent evaluates employer brands, what they find attractive in these employers, and ultimately, which employers are the most attractive in South Africa.
The survey’s diverse range of respondents and questions means that a range of qualitative and quantitative data is interpreted to uncover an extensive range of insights and trends.
Universum’s Winani Ndlovu explains further: “The insights have showed that while having high awareness levels is imperative for employer brands , those levels do not always translate to desire to work for an employer.
“Despite the high unemployment levels talent is facing, they are reporting that being aware of an employer and their staffing needs is not enough to drive the desire to work for that employer. Employers need to clearly articulate their value proposition to assist them in making an informed decision before joining the organisation. Clearly having a strong employer brand is imperative for the attraction and retention of talent.”
These include employer preferences, salary expectations, concerns relating to employment, goals, both short and long term, expectations around training and development, the importance of corporate culture, and much more.
South Africa’s Most attractive employers
The 2017-2018 cycle results show an interesting return to prominence of government and parastatals, with many ranking at the top of the list across categories.