A salary is no longer the sole – or over-riding – consideration in the jobs market, especially for younger generations.

Ian Girling, Dorset Chamber’s Chief Executive, says more jobseekers are choosing ‘conscience over cash’.

He said: “Employers continue to face challenges in the recruitment and retention of staff.

“It is clear that many people now base their choice of employer on whether it is a conscientious company that does the right thing, rather than purely on salary alone.

“Whether it is in terms of wellbeing or environmental and social responsibility, expectations are changing and businesses need to keep pace to meet the needs of tomorrow’s workforce.”

His comments come ahead of the Dorset Business Festival Conference on October 9.

It includes a panel discussion titled ‘Gen Z – Alpha and Beyond: Their Future in our Hands’ focusing on how businesses need to evolve to meet the demands of tomorrow’s workforce.

Latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data estimate the employment rate for those aged 16 and over fell to 4.1 per cent in the period covering May, June and July.

Ian said: “We will be exploring this issue and many more at our Business Festival Conference to help employers explore strategies for recruitment as well as such issues as skills development, growth and innovation.

“The conference will demonstrate how an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) focus can make a positive impact as well as profit, representing a smart business strategy for the future.”

The day-long Business Festival Conference, at the Hilton Hotel in Bournemouth, has the theme of ‘Business as a force for good’.

As well as spotlight speakers, Q&As and networking, its panels will focus on:

• Embedding Environmental and Social Responsibility for Growth
• Sustainable Business: Where Profit and Planet Align
• Leadership and Innovation. Business as a Problem Solver
• Gen Z, Gen Alpha and Beyond: Their Future in our Hands

Other panellists are from such diverse organisations and businesses as Lush, Organix, Suez, the Department for Education, YMCA Bournemouth, Nourish Care Systems Ltd, 4Couture, Marsham Court Hotel and Bournemouth and Poole College.

The keynote speakers are global climate change consultant and social entrepreneur Benita Matofska, pictured left, and political analyst and president of The Jobs Foundation Lord Matthew Elliott.

The conference is one of the highlights of the Dorset Chamber organised Business Festival – the largest event of its kind in the region – over two weeks from September 30 to October 10.

It includes a Festival Expo on October 2, the conference on October 9 and the Dorset Business Awards on October 1 – all at the Hilton Hotel in Bournemouth.

There will also be a festival breakfast on September 30 at Rick Stein’s restaurant at Sandbanks.

The festival is supported by Premier Festival Partner Lester Aldridge and Festival Partners Blue Sky Financial Planning, Bournemouth and Poole College, Dorset Council, ElectriX and YMCA Bournemouth.

Dorset Chamber has nearly 700 members representing 37,000 employees.

Its Business Festival is open to all businesses, including non-members.

Visit https://dorsetchamber.co.uk/business-as-a-force-for-good-conference/ for more information about the conference and to book places.