Which employee benefits actually make candidates stop scrolling, read on, and click the Apply button? We take a closer look at what attracts today’s jobseekers the most (spoiler: the flashiest perks aren’t the ones topping the list).
A well-designed benefits package can be crucial for both attracting new talent and keeping the great people you already have. But to create an offer that truly resonates, you need a clear picture of what candidates and employees actually value.
A recent Ipsos study (article in Swedish), commissioned by AMF, explored exactly that: Which benefits matter most to people when they’re looking for a job today? Let’s dive into the results.
The Most Popular Job Benefits of 2025
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Occupational pension – 62%
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Collective bargaining agreement – 44%
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Remote work and flexible hours – 42%
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Extra vacation days – 34%
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Insurance (e.g., health or accident insurance) – 26%
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Wellness allowance – 19%
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Salary sacrifice – 11%
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Company or benefits car – 7%
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Parental pay – 6%
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Subsidised lunch – 3%
Three Clear Takeaways from the Study (and Why They Matter)
1. Security beats everything
Occupational pension and collective bargaining agreements top the list by a wide margin. And it’s no surprise. In a time when many worry about personal finances, interest rates, and long-term retirement savings, benefits that offer stability and economic security have never been more important.
2. Work–life balance is highly valued
Flexible hours and remote work continue to rank high, largely thanks to the habits and expectations shaped during the pandemic years. For many employees, having the freedom to manage their workday is now seen as a natural part of a sustainable working life.
At the same time, flexibility lands “only” in third place — a sign that it’s becoming more of a hygiene factor. People appreciate it, but long-term security still weighs slightly heavier.
3. Flashy perks aren’t dealbreakers
Company cars, subsidised lunches, and other “flashier” perks score the lowest. Do people enjoy them? Sure. But they rarely determine whether someone changes employer or decides to stay.
Read more: Upgrade the Employee Journey – and Get a Head Start in the Quest for New Talent
Make Your Benefits Count – 6 Practical Tips
Offering great benefits is a good start. But for them to truly make an impact, they need to be clear, relevant, and easy to use.
Here are six ways to maximise their value:
1. Communicate your benefits clearly
Many employers offer more than employees realise — especially when it comes to pensions and insurance. Explain the value in simple terms, ideally with concrete examples in actual numbers or short “how it works” breakdowns.
2. Prioritise what matters most
Avoid spreading your budget across a long list of perks that few take advantage of. Instead, focus on the five to seven benefits that are most relevant to your workforce.
3. Remove unnecessary friction
Confusing forms, manual routines, unclear processes… Cumbersome admin often means valuable benefits go unused. Digital self-service and automated workflows remove barriers and help ensure employees actually make use of what you offer.
4. Track utilisation regularly
Which benefits are being used? Which ones aren’t? What do employees wish they had? Make it a habit to review and update your benefits offering over time — needs change, and your benefits need to keep up.
5. Invite employee input
Pulse surveys, short questionnaires, or simply adding a recurring benefits question to performance reviews can give you insights you won’t get otherwise. (Bonus: when employees get a say, motivation and engagement naturally increase.)
6. Let your benefits evolve with life
New graduate, parent of young children, or preparing for retirement? Employees have different needs at different stages of life. Offering flexible, customisable benefits is a smart way to strengthen engagement and show that you invest in the individual — not in a one-size-fits-all approach.
This could mean giving each employee a benefits budget with a menu of options to choose from, or offering additional parental leave or part-time opportunities depending on life circumstances.
Read more: How to Attract Talent with Effective Employer Branding
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