BPI group Executive Employment Trends Q2 20152. 2 © BPI group
BPI group has established this Executive Employment Trends Report to offer visibility into the current
executive job market. We are committed to quality and results in our outplacement programs, and believe that
keeping a careful eye on trends in the market is an important way to ensure that we are meeting the needs of
our career transition clients. The findings of this report are based on a survey of our executive clients who
began their job search from Q1 2014 through Q2 2015.
The Executive Employment Trends Report includes analysis of the following executive employment trends:
– Average length of the executive job search
– How the length of the job search is impacted by various factors, including:
• Base Salary Level
• Education Level
• Age
We look forward to continuing to share the latest trends in executive employment. If you would like to learn
more about our approach to executive outplacement services, please call +1.800.323.0206 or connect with
your local BPI group office.
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT TRENDS REPORT
3. 3 © BPI group
REFLECTIONS ON EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT TRENDS IN Q2 2015
Patricia Siderius
Managing Director, Executive Outplacement Services
psiderius@bpi-group.us, +1.630.613-6373
Executives in Q2 2015 landed a new job in an average of 4.5 months, a slight increase from Q1’s average of
4.3 months. As we saw last quarter, this slight increase in job search length corresponded with an increase in
average compensation for the new position: 64% of executives reported higher salaries in their new jobs,
beating last quarter’s record high of 60%.
In Q2, only 9% of executives chose to start their own business – about half the rate of Q1. Moreover, none of
our executive clients chose to retire this quarter. Based on the experiences of our clients, we have observed
that as the job market has improved, our executives can afford to be more particular in their job search.
While they may take a bit longer to consider their options, they are landing better and higher paying
positions.
This observation is supported by the broader market trends noted
by the U.S. Labor Department, who reported that 223,000 jobs
were added in June. While lower-wage jobs were most in demand
in the earlier period of the economic recovery, we are now seeing a
larger concentration of new white-collar jobs in industries like
marketing, insurance, and software – a marked increase in
opportunities for our executive clients.
1
1
Schwartz, Nelson D. “U.S. Economy Adds 223,000 Jobs; Unemployment at 5.3%” The New York
Times. 2 July 2015: B1. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/03/business/economy/jobs-report-hiring-
unemployment-june.html?_r=1. Web. 30 July 2015.
4. 4 © BPI group
About the executives:
This report is based on survey responses
from a sample of BPI group’s executive
outplacement clients, representing:
– 45 executives, comprising 32 men and
13 women
– 14 states
– 28 companies
All executives surveyed began and
completed their career transition with BPI
group between Q1 2014 and Q2 2015.
ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OUTPLACEMENT CLIENTS
Accounting/Finance/Insurance 11%
Banking/Real Estate/Mortgage 5%
Business/Strategic Management 7%
Food Services/Hospitality 9%
Human Resources 7%
IT/Software Development 17%
Legal 4%
Manufacturing/Production/Operations 20%
Marketing/Product 9%
Medical/Health 2%
Quality Assurance/Safety 2%
Sales/Retail/Business Development 5%
Other 2%
Executive respondents represent a
diverse array of occupations:
5. 5 © BPI group
EXECUTIVE OUTPLACEMENT PROGRAM OUTCOME
91% of our executive clients
chose to seek a new job within
an organization, whereas 9%
decided to start their own
business. In Q1 2015, almost
twice this number, 17% of the
cohort, decided to start their own
business.
91%
9%
Executive Outplacement Program
Outcome
Landed New
Employment
Started Own
Business
6. 6 © BPI group
Executives spent an average of 4.5 months in the job search – slightly more time than
the Q1 2015 average of 4.3 months. This was significantly less time than the national
average of 6.4 months in Q2 2015, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To
compare, the average job search length in Q1 2015 was 7 months, seasonally adjusted.
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT TREND: LENGTH OF JOB SEARCH
Salary at the new job:
• 64% rated the compensation
at their new job as Better
than that of their previous job
• 24% rated the compensation
at their new job as the Same
as that of their previous job
• 12% rated the compensation
at their new job as Less than
that of their previous job
67%
27%
3% 3%
How Executives Found their New Job
Networking
Search Firm
Other
Internet
7. 7 © BPI group
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT TREND: BASE SALARY
14%
70%
16%
Survey Sample: Base Salary Range
$75,000 -
$150,000
$150,000 -
$250,000
$250,000+
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
$75,000 - $150,000 $150,000 - $250,000 $250,000+
Months
Average Time to New Job by Base Salary
Range
Key Takeaway: Executives in the $150,000-$250,000 base salary range, comprising the majority of
the survey sample, took the longest to land a new job: an average of 4.9 months. Those surveyed in
the $75,000-$150,000 salary range, representing 14% of the sample, landed at nearly the same rate,
an average of 4.8 months, while the 16% representing executives making over $250,000 secured a
new position in an average of 3 months. This is a change from previous quarters, in which those in the
highest income bracket have experienced the longest average job search length.
8. 8 © BPI group
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT TREND: EDUCATION LEVEL
Key Takeaway: Executives with a Master’s degree, comprising the majority of those surveyed, landed
in an average of 4.3 months. Those with only a Bachelor’s took slightly longer, averaging 4.9 months.
5%
42%
51%
2%
Survey Sample: Education Level
Some
College
Bachelor's
Master's
Ph.D
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Some College Bachelor's Master'sMonths
Average Time to New Job by Education
Level
9. 9 © BPI group
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT TREND: AGE GROUP
Key Takeaway: Executives in the 51-60 age range – the largest proportion of our sample - landed a
new position in an average of 4.6 months, down from an average of 4.8 months in Q1 2015.
17%
33%
45%
5%
Survey Sample: Age Range
31-40
41-50
51-60
61+
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
31-40 41-50 51-60 61+Months
Average Time to New Job by Age Range
10. 10 © BPI group
BPI group offers a local boutique touch with a global network of
resources to ensure long-term career success for our executive
outplacement clients. In addition to job search coaching, clients
may also choose to focus on entrepreneurial ventures, preparing for
retirement, or other work alternatives.
Each client works with a personal career coach to develop a
customized, winning services plan, helping them to:
• Focus on developing the next step in their career, leveraging
assessment tools and professional consulting to establish short
and long-term career direction.
• Learn how to effectively job search and thrive in the new world
of work.
• Search for the next opportunity, be it a new job, a business
acquisition or start-up, or a part-time career.
• Connect to high-quality job opportunities, through technology, a
team of job developers, social networks, in-person networking
events, personal introductions, and direct placement activities.
• Succeed in their new role, by developing a 90-day onboarding
plan.
Interested in learning more?
Call +1.800.323.0206 or connect with your local BPI group office.
ABOUT EXECUTIVE OUTPLACEMENT SERVICES
… I am excited and eternally grateful for the time you (and
everyone at BPI group) took to help me in my search over
the past year. I feel it was a critical piece in my getting this
job and I cannot thank you enough.
- Tim, landed as Chief Advisor to the Board of Trustees
at a major education institution
Losing my job after 12 years with a company was a
confidence shattering experience. Patricia and her team
worked with me to build back my confidence and to help
me understand what I truly want at the next step in my
career. Job searching in today's market is extremely
different than 10 years ago and BPI gave me the
expertise to make a difference and stand out among
other candidates.
- Sandra, landed as Vice President of Operations
with a publicly traded manufacturing company
11. 11 © BPI group
We are global management and human resources
consultants focused on helping individuals and
organizations navigate change.
Align + Engage
We help build optimal structures and get people
engaged in their roles.
Develop
We inspire individuals and teams to achieve
maximum performance.
Transition
We help individuals and organizations make the
most of change.
Connect with us at www.bpi-group.us to
learn more.
ABOUT BPI GROUP