Poll Position: The real picture of working in Jersey from a recruitment perspective

We have better health outcomes, higher employment, nicer homes, and are one of the safest places in the world. So how come Jersey is outside the top 20 places to live according to a recent poll?

The OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) Better Life Index 2023 placed Jersey 26 out of 41 developed nations when scored across 11 areas related to quality of life. At 6.4 out of 10, Jersey sits alongside the OECD average, marginally behind the UK (6.6). Norway tops the Index at 8.4 while South Africa comes in last (2.6).

Jersey had some of the highest scores for community with 96% of islanders saying they had someone they could rely on in a time of need, while 85% of people said they felt safe walking alone at night compared to 68% in the UK. However, cost of living, low civil engagement levels, and overall life satisfaction dragged the island down.

Jersey was close to the UK for education and skills, with 84% of islanders having at least an upper secondary qualification, and the island ranked highest of UK regions for employment, with 77% of 15–64-year-olds in some form of work.

Shelley Kendrick, Managing Director, Kendrick Rose, said: “A poll like this only gives part of the picture. While there many be some aspects of life that Jersey doesn’t score so highly on compared to other developed countries, people must question what matters most to them when considering whether Jersey is a good place to live and work. For skilled professionals, Jersey remains a very attractive place to be. We’re worlds apart from many countries on safety, health, and employment – factors many of us would consider more important, than say political engagement which is measured purely on voter turnout for one election.”

Jersey fared better in the Index for material conditions than ‘quality of life’ factors such as work-life-balance, or life satisfaction where Jersey ranked 32 out of 41 for both.

Shelley said: “When anything is self-reported it’s going to be subjective and can even vary according to the weather. When considering whether you want to stay in Jersey or move to Jersey for a job there are a lot of factors to bear in mind that are not considered for an index like this. What we see is a stable jobs market, with fantastic opportunities for islanders across a wide range of industries. We have low commute times, with far lower commuting costs than many international finance centres. And we have world-class employers who offer excellent packages with more flexibility than ever before.”

Some of the negative feelings touched on in the report may however tie in with trends affecting workplaces around the world.

The Top Employers Institute’s World of Work Trends Report 2024, highlighted the growing demand by employees for leaders to be authentic, empathetic, and to lead with purpose. Organisations must also manage a genuine two-way dialogue, ensuring employees feel their voice counts if they are to be engaged.

Shelley said: “There is a growing link between empowerment and performance and good employers are managing this effectively. This goes far beyond employee surveys or wellbeing initiatives but must be at the heart of the relationship if it is to matter.”

Indeed, we might even be entering a saturation point, where additional wellbeing initiatives fail to offer additional benefits. Data from the Top Employers Institute indicates 79% of top employers already have a coherent wellbeing strategy, 72% regularly conduct employee wellbeing assessments, 68% already use wellbeing metrics with 54% holding leaders accountable to meet these targets.

Shelley said: “As recruiters we speak to candidates who have lived and worked in many different jurisdictions, and firms that operate across different locations. There are pinch points, like housing costs, which we must be mindful of when attracting and retaining talent. However, it’s important to take a holistic approach. Everyone’s personal circumstances are different, and we have different priorities at different points in life. Ultimately, nowhere is perfect, but when the sun is shining, and you can catch up with friends on the beach after work for a swim and a BBQ, Jersey does a lot better than most statistics imply.”