A national survey of 1,501 Canadian adults conducted for First Onsite Property Restoration found that younger workers place greater emphasis on meaningful work than on higher pay when evaluating job opportunities.

Among Millennials, 68 percent said they value purpose over pay, compared with 65 percent of Gen Z respondents.

Respondents in these age groups indicated that they look for employers whose mission and values align with their own and that they are more likely to stay in roles where they feel they contribute to a greater good, even if another job might offer a higher salary.

The findings suggest that employers seeking to attract and retain younger employees need to highlight opportunities for impact, career development, and alignment with personal values alongside competitive compensation, particularly in industries such as restoration and trades that rely on recruiting younger talent into skilled roles.

Source: https://www.collisionrepairmag.com/business/hr/article/15770766/employee-survey-younger-workers-value-purpose-over-pay

So, the question for our readers is: For younger workers, is working for the "meaningful work" more important than pay?

Here are some opinions of some of the McCalmon editorial staff:

Jack McCalmon, Esq.

I am not part of the younger workforce; however, my experience recruiting and compensating younger employees is that they expect both competitive pay and meaningful work. If I were to tell a younger employee that I intended to pay less because the position was more meaningful, the reaction would almost certainly be negative. Likewise, if I offered a job candidate a lower wage on the premise of "more meaningful work," my expectation is that the candidate would choose another opportunity.

You can answer our poll. Please note any comments provided may be shared with others.