August 26, 2008 12:35 PM

You can't always get what you want
Posted by Jesse Nunesat 12:35 PM

Maybe the Rolling Stones were talking about the 2008 job market when they penned their 1969 hit.

A recent study done for staffing firm Robert Half International Inc. and CareerBuilder.com shows that both job seekers and employers are getting no satisfaction in the current hiring climate, the Associated Press reports. Job seekers can't find jobs. Employers can't find qualified candidates. They both rate the current job market around a 3.5 out of 5 in terms of difficulty, according to the survey.

It's not bad for everyone, however. The report shows that there is a dearth of qualified candidates in the technology and accounting fields, giving the few qualified workers in those industries a huge advantage in negotiating pay raises, benefits, and all the other perks that come with being a sought-after employee. From the AP story:

The survey, called The Employment Dynamics and Growth Expectations Report, found 59 percent of hiring managers cite a shortage of qualified workers as their biggest recruiting challenge. At least a quarter of the applicants who contact them are not qualified, six out of 10 employers told surveyors, while 31 percent said more than half are not qualified.

....

If they find qualified workers, 65 percent of hiring managers said they are willing to negotiate salary, while 19 percent are very willing. On the employee side, 63 percent of those surveyed said they were more likely to try to negotiate a better compensation package with a new employer than they were last year, compared with 58 percent last year.

And it's not just salary that's important. Nearly three-quarters of employees surveyed said the availability of flexible schedules may cause them to choose one job over another, the survey said.

Flexible schedules were also on the top of the list of measures employers are willing to take to retain employees, along with funding for additional training, increasing salaries and offering telecommuting options.

So it's not all bad out there for skilled workers. But what if you're not one of the lucky few 'qualified' workers that companies fall all over themselves to hire? How does the current job market affect your thinking about your work situation?

A survey earlier this year from staffing firm Randstad claims to show that during a bad economy, employees become more grateful for their jobs. According to the company's World of Work survey (pdf), when employees become nervous about the ecomony, that actually become happier with their jobs.

Now, whether they become more satisfied, or just less likely to let their frustrations out, I guess we can't know for sure. But it stands to reason that when the job market is tight, dissatisfied employees are less likely to voluntarily leave their jobs. And if they are less likely to leave, they are probably more likely to convince themselves that their situation isn't as bad as it could be.

Can't get no satisfaction? Well, then, try working in a faltering economy. It cures all your ills!

How about you? Does a bad economy make you happier with your job? Are you browsing for new jobs less than you used to? How has the economy changed your outlook on your career?

Share your thoughts in our discussion forum.