The latest job openings report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed there were more than 9 million job openings in the U.S. 

Most media reports about why that number was high, and staying relatively steady, speculated about some element of reluctance: reluctance to return to work because of COVID-19, reluctance to work where the jobs are, and reluctance to forgo supplemental unemployment benefits.

But for many employers, the most relevant voices to listen to today may be those of job seekers. 

According to a recent Joblist survey, the search for benefits is what’s driving almost a third (29%) of former hospitality workers to look for positions outside of restaurant, bar, or hotel businesses. 

Not only do 80% of the job seekers surveyed rank benefits as important or very important as they look for new opportunities, but 74% believe it’s time for employers to re-evaluate job benefits for post-pandemic workplaces. 

The survey also revealed that 43% of those job seekers view benefits as being more important than financial compensation. A surprising 55% said they would consider a lower-paying position if it offered better benefits.

This is a particularly opportune time for employers to keep employees’ perspectives in mind. Offering a benefit such as HealthTap can be both an important differentiator for employers — and a real competitive advantage. Employees value their HealthTap benefit because:

1. It provides exceptional healthcare from caring doctors: HealthTap has 7x higher user satisfaction than the healthcare industry average.
2. It takes care of their families: Employees can add their children to the benefit at no added cost. 
3. It includes both 24/7 urgent care and primary care, with the option to select your own personal care doctor for all visits. HealthTap doctors provide medical advice, make diagnoses, write prescriptions, order labs and much more. They treat conditions ranging from asthma and high blood pressure to migraines and diabetes.

Put it all together and, with a high quality health benefit, you can be more successful turning job openings into filled positions and driving your organization forward.