Although salary and benefits rank as the biggest draw for both men and women when it comes to choosing an employer, significant gender differences exist when it comes to defining other elements of employer attractiveness, according to a recent employer branding survey conducted by Randstad US.

Randstad recently surveyed 7,000 people nationwide with a variety of backgrounds and occupations to find out the key factors that go into employer attractiveness.

"How a company is perceived as an employer impacts what types of candidates it will attract," saidLisa Crawford, senior vice president, Randstad U.S. "As our research reveals, companies may need to focus on key elements, such as building culture and adopting more flexible work policies, to appeal to different demographics. Attracting and retaining talent is not a one stop shop—particularly with a diverse workforce and multiple generations sitting side-by-side to one another."

Key findings:

• Women Want a Prime Location: Location is key for women workers, with 44 percent of female respondents choosing that as an important employer attribute compared to 35 percent of men.
• Men Want Career Progression Opportunities and Financially Healthy Companies: When choosing to work for an employer, 42 percent of men look for opportunities to advance versus 36 percent of women. Additionally, the financial health of a company is very important to male respondents (36% of men versus 28% of women).
• Work/life Balance Continues to Be a Top Concern for Women Workers: Nearly one-in-four (37%) women respondents chose workplace flexibility as an important employer attribute, compared to just 26 percent of men.

Companies Must Assess What Their Brand Means

"As the job market continues its steady momentum and employee confidence increases, more employees will keep their options open for other opportunities," Crawford said. "If companies are to retain and attract the best talent, they first need to assess what their brand really means, determine what keeps their talent coming through their doors and how to attract the next wave of workers who may have different expectations than what their company currently offers.

"With women making up half the workforce, they should also consider the unique things that women value when choosing an employer. Investing in building a strong employer brand will pay off in a stable workforce, a better match of talent within your organization and increased engagement and productivity."