With workforce and employment issues happening and budget cuts inevitable, there is one area that businesses should focus on if they’re looking to attract talent.

According to the latest survey from Esker (News - Alert), workers are looking to be at a job that prioritizes sustainability.

The awareness around climate change and environmental sustainability is growing today, and more people are starting to think about how they can make a difference. This is also spilling over into the workplace.

The idea is to have a job that aligns with personal values so they can feel good about the work they do and gaining a sense of purpose and fulfillment with their careers.

The Esker 2023 Survey: Sustainability in the Workplace, conducted by third-party platform Pollfish, asked U.S. salaried workers with middle-class incomes about the role sustainability plays in their choice of employers, their purchasing decisions in the workplace and their personal investments.

A whopping 80% of the survey respondents said it was an “extremely important” (48%) or “somewhat important” (32%) need for businesses to “prioritize sustainability practices and values in today’s society.”

The survey found that women valued sustainability practices more highly than men, with 84% of women calling them important compared to 75% of men.

Also, 58% of respondents said they will look at a businesses sustainability record when choosing a future employer. Many also said they have already factored that element into their current work positions.

Today, with increasing recession concerns and costs putting pressure on their profit margins, 84% of CEOs in a recent survey conducted by KPMG, said they reduced or were contemplating reducing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) programs. These latest findings from the Esker survey may urge them to reconsider.

“While some companies might think that cutting back on sustainability initiatives is the safe course in an uncertain economy, we believe there is more risk in turning away from our commitments,” said Jean-Michel Bérard, CEO at Esker.

Just how can companies get on board if they haven't already? Survey respondents offered the following tips for making steps toward sustainability in 2023:

• Practice energy efficiency (68%).
• Reuse and recycle materials (65%).
• Measure and minimize overall carbon footprint (57%).
• Educate and train employees on sustainability practices (55%).
• Work only with suppliers, partners, and vendors that practice sustainability (48%).
• Reduce paper use (43%).