HR Pulse

UNIVERSUM ANNOUNCES SA'S MOST ATTRACTIVE EMPLOYERS 2014

Global leaders in employer branding, Universum, have compiled the results of their largest research sample to date in order to determine the Universum Most Attractive Employer Awards for 2014.

From July to October 2014, an in-depth survey of 44,640 students at 25 tertiary institutions and 21,374 professionals across the country was conducted. Every year the annual rankings and associated trend reports are important indicators of the growth of certain sectors, young people’s expectations for the future, and the changing face of South Africa’s professional landscape.

Awards are given to the companies ranked the highest in the three different surveys – student, professionals, and MBAs. Students and professionals vote for employers in terms of the following four broad areas of study:

• Business/commerce students
• Engineering/technology students
• Health care / health sciences / sciences students
• Humanities / liberal arts /law students

More than simply a list of attractive employers, the rankings also highlight significant trends that companies both large and small need to be aware of when hoping to attract top talent.  Universum SA MD, Roger Manfredsson said “Universum’s in-depth research is not just quantitative, but rather is a detailed survey – the largest of its kind in South Africa. The trends and issues that are raised by the over 65,000 job seekers interviewed often reveal surprising results that can contradict the conventional and anecdotal wisdom business often relies on.”

Instability Still An Issue for Job Seekers

Following on from the trends seen in 2013, young people are still very concerned about their prospects of finding employment – and looking to employers that they perceive as stable. 63% of students are concerned about their prospects of finding a job after graduation, which is slightly down from 66% last year. Once again, females (65%) and African black students (68%) are the most concerned.

Government and parastatles are still perceived as offering secure and stable employment. Winani Ndlovu, research manger Africa, explains, “This is why government and parastatles are so popular with students who value security and stability. In this year’s rankings, within the student rankings, government and parastatles feature within the Top 3 rankings across every sector.” Within the rankings, Transnet has becomes more attractive across the board – one of the only SOE’s that has large expansion plans in immediate future, which is clearly indicated in the significant increase in rankings.

South Africa Catching Up to Global Trends

This year’s research also shows for the first time that young South African’s are starting to follow global trends amongst job-seekers in the developed world; namely becoming more picky and with a stronger focus on the people and culture of organisations. Jenali Skuse, employer branding consuItant says “In the past, South Africans have prioritised financial and stabliity concerns, and whilst this is still the case, there is an increase in the importance of “softer” issues when top talent is looking for employment”. Students this past year picked on average less ideal employers than in the past.  Additionally, for students in SA leadership is extremely important – this is consistent with other emerging markets as opposed to the more developed markets. However in South Africa, as a career goal, leadership is becoming less important.

Females Expect to & Earn Less

Unfortunately, the expectations and reality for female job seekers remains that they expect to earn less than males and then do in fact earn less when they become professionals. For business students the gender gap is ZAR 41 178.8 and for engineering students the gender gap is ZAR 18 569.90.

Retails Loses Attractiveness

Based on the 2014/15 research, retail as an industry is becoming less attractive to students across the board. The only exception to this trend is Woolworths which continues to become more attractive to talent.

The Universum Most Attractive Employer Rankings 2014/15
Students:

• Business    
• KPMG    1
• South African Reserve Bank    2
• Transnet    3
• Deloitte    4
• Eskom    5
• PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)    6
• South African Revenue Service (SARS)    7
• Coca-Cola South Africa    8
• Investec    9
• South African Breweries (SAB)    10

Engineering

• Eskom    1
• Transnet    2
• Sasol    3
• Google    4
• Microsoft    5
• Murray & Roberts    6
• BHP Billiton    7
• BMW Group    8
• AngloAmerican    9
• CSIR    10

Sciences:

• DAFF    1
• CSIR    2
• DST    3
• Sasol    4
• South African Breweries (SAB)    5
• Eskom    6
• National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)    7
• Dept. of Health    8
• Google    9
• Unilever    10

Humanities:

• DHET    1    
• Dept. of Health    2    
• SABC    3    
• Google    4    
• DIRCO    5    
• Media24    6    
• Dept. of Home Affairs    7    
• DRDLR    8    
• e.tv    9    
• Transnet    10    
• Law:
• Legal Aid    1
• Webber Wentzel Attorneys    2
• NPA    3
• Adams & Adams    4
• Norton Rose Fulbright    5
• Bowman Gilfillan    6
• DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr    7
• Werksmans Attorneys    8
• South African Revenue Service (SARS)    9
• Google    10

Health Sciences:

• Dept. of Health    1
• Medi-Clinic Southern Africa    2
• Network Healthcare (Netcare)    3
• National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)    4
• Discovery    5
• Aspen Pharmacare    6
• Pfizer Laboratories    7
• City of Cape Town    8
• DHET    9
• Nestlé South Africa    10

Professionals:

• Business:
• Google    1
• South African Breweries (SAB)    2
• Investec    3
• Coca-Cola South Africa    4
• Woolworths    5
• Allan Gray    6
• Sasol    7
• Discovery    8
• BMW Group    9
• Deloitte    10

Engineering:

• Google    1    
• Sasol    2    
• Eskom    3    
• CSIR    4    
• BHP Billiton    5    
• Transnet    6    
• Aurecon    7    
• South African Breweries (SAB)    8    
• Microsoft    9    
• AngloAmerican    10    
• Sciences:
• CSIR    1
• DST    2
• BHP Billiton    3
• Sasol    4
• South African Breweries (SAB)    5
• Google    6
• Eskom    7
• AngloAmerican    8
• Pfizer Laboratories    9
• Exxaro    10