The Compelling Employment Offer

A unique collaboration between PAC Australia and the Advisory Board for the Arts

Attracting and Retaining Arts and Culture Professionals

What do staff really want and expect from their leadership? What are the investments in staff that actually generate loyalty? How can organizations stand out when trying to attract the best talent?

In summer 2024, PAC Australia and the Advisory Board for the Arts (ABA) partnered on the largest ever Australian study to uncover the true motivations and preferences of their staff. The survey used conjoint analysis (also known as trade-off analysis) to give arts and culture leaders a much clearer picture of what employees want in a job, and what they are willing to trade off to get it. The survey was open between June 11 to July 11, 2024, and includes responses from 500 employees across 60 organizations.

Key data insights include:

1. There is a 39-point difference in satisfaction scores between Gen Z (-13) and Baby Boomers (+36)

2. After salary, working for a good manager is the most important attribute

3. Organisational diversity and commitment to DEI rank among the least important attributes

4. Office environment is much more important to team members than managers

5. Staff in regional areas are far happier than their metropolitan counterparts

Key takeaways from the survey include:

1. Start investing in manager quality to retain staff: working for a good manager matters a lot to people.

2. Don’t over-invest in workplace technology, organisational recognition or providing opportunities to manager others: these are not as important to most staff as you might think.

3. Don’t use your own opinions as managers to gauge what young people value: there are significant differences in outlook and satisfaction between Gen Z and everyone else.

4. Continue to develop the culture of the organisation but don't think that being mission-driven is going to be entirely enough.

ABA Australian Members

To access the full survey findings and learn more about Advisory Board for the Arts, please contact Nico Daswani at nico.daswani@advisoryboardarts.com.