More than half, or 51%, of professionals in Spain who have changed companies in the last year have done so because of salary, according to research from Randstad Spain.

The other reasons for changing jobs include having limited professional prospects within the company (39%), work and life balance (36%), lack of recognition (32%), few challenges (27%) and the absence of economic stability of the company (25%).

When it comes to remaining with a company, the top reason for professionals staying is the same as the top reason for leaving with salary ranking as the top incentive to stay with a company (50%). This was followed by work and life balance (48%), job security (47%), pleasant work environment (41%), interesting work (40%) and location (39%).

Miguel Valdivieso, director of Randstad Human Capital Consulting, commented, "There is no doubt that salary equity is important. Any competitive talent strategy that does not contemplate fair compensation is not sustainable even in the short term.”

Valdivieso added that there were other important aspects such as flexibility policies and managerial style which includes recognition, challenge or professional prospects.