In these hard times, Kiwis are opting for job security first when choosing where to work.

Recruiter Randstad’s 2012 survey of 7000 New Zealanders shows 19% rate job security as their top factor in picking somewhere to work, up eight points on last year.

They also rate financially healthy companies equally in their choice – at 19% compared with 7% last year. Third most important was competitive salary and employee benefits at 12%, down from 15% last year.

Curiously, though, when the survey was examined by gender, men and women had strongly different views.

While men nearly all rated international career opportunities as factors for choosing a company (99%), women chose flexible working conditions (47%). 

The women also rated a conveniently located workplace (33%), a pleasant working atmosphere (32%), diversity in their workplace (25%), good work/life balance (21%) and strong image/strong values.

Only 5% rated interesting job content and 3% picked competitive salary and employee benefits.

The men also rated financially healthy companies (49%), career progression opportunities (23%), good training (13%), strong management (10%) and quality products/services (10%).

Younger people also rated international career opportunities more highly (158%), with career progression opportunities (61%) and good training (31%).

Flexible working opportunities picked by just 3%.

Among older people, quality products/services rated more 48%, followed by diversity in the workplace 30% and interesting job content 27%.

More highly educated respondents also rated global career opportunities (83%) and career progression (26%). 

Randstad surveyed 3448 men and 3583 women online.

By age, 32% of those surveyed were 25 to 39 and 36% were 40-59 years old.

By occupation, the largest number were in education/public administration/healthcare (977), followed by retail (487) industrial/manufacturing (325), construction (266) and services (257).