|  myFSCJ | Giving | Request Information | Apply
FSCJ Logo

DIVE: Jacksonville's Duval County rated top spot for talent attraction

Nov 1, 2022, 10:57 AM

Link to article https://www.hrdive.com/news/jacksonvilles-duval-county-rated-top-spot-for-talent-attraction/567645/

Dive Brief:

  • Duval County, which includes Jacksonville, Florida, topped labor market analyst Emsi's 4th Annual Talent Attraction Scorecard. Duval County knocked Maricopa County, Arizona, out of the first place spot it secured last year.
  • Counties are ranked according to Emsi's index, which is based on six metrics: "job growth, net migration, annual openings for skilled workers per capita, educational attainment growth (associate degree and above), and regional competitiveness."
  • According to Emsi, Cameron Parish County, Louisiana, took the top spot for small counties, followed by Twiggs County, Georgia.
 

Candidates' listed location, along with salary and employer loyalty, is among their job must-haves in a 2017 Addison Group study. Although location was a close third to money's top ranking and loyalty's No. 2 ranking, employers can't ignore it as a crucial factor in attracting and retaining talent.

For tech workers — many of whom are attracted to high-priced hubs like Silicon Valley — cost of living can be prohibitive. In fact, 78% of tech workers in a CompTIA study said they would relocate elsewhere if the cost of living were more affordable and the economy maintained a robust status. A report from Citrix Systems released last spring showed similar results; 75% of knowledge workers in big cities said they would relocate based on financial concerns.

Organizations may be able to make up in benefits and perks what they lack in location. For instance, employers can consider offering employees benefits ranging from student-loan reduction programs or financial wellbeing sessions to discounts for dining and entertainment or free or subsidized parking. Such benefits and perks could attract young workers, who are reportedly gravitating more towards costly urban areas as centers of culture, dining, academia and other amenities. Other solutions for employers that are located in remote areas or other less desirable sites may include offering much in-demand remote-work options or other types of flexible work schedules.