Benefits

The most commonly offered benefits in 2026 remain at consistent levels from 2025. Their presence will not win candidates, but their absence will lose them.

Employers looking to stand out should look beyond the top tier. For example, stock options (22%), education sponsorship (20%), and wellbeing memberships (32%) are valued by candidates but far from universal, and offer a genuine point of differentiation in competitive offers.

QUESTION 12

Do you get any of the following benefits in your current package? Select all that apply:

76%

Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g. 401 (k))

74%

Health insurance

63%

Dental cover

32%

Social security benefits

32%

Staff discount schemes (including gym/wellbeing memberships, and retail/entertainment discounts)

30%

Extra holiday on top of your annual leave (including charity days, birthday leave, or anniversary leave)

22%

Stock options/equity

20%

Education sponsorship

14%

Relocation coverage

14%

Travel allowance (including a car park allowance, petrol, flights, or train fares)

6%

None

6%

Company car

5%

Childcare allowance

3%

Housing allowance

2%

School allowance (for your children)

“Another benefit we’ve seen make or break career decisions is parental leave. A large portion of the workforce that we represent is at the age where they are having and raising children. We have seen candidates reject offers because they were looking to leave a company with great parental benefits, and then they get an offer from a firm that doesn’t, and it prevents them from making the move.”

Christine Corson, Managing Director - DSJ Global USA

Annual Leave

The majority of surveyed supply chain professionals (61%) receive between 14 and 27 days of paid annual leave, broadly in line with standard market practice, but there is scope for employers to improve their positioning without significant cost.

In a market where 39% of candidates would trade salary for better flexibility and work-life balance, additional leave - or creative structures like birthday days or volunteering allowances - can be a meaningful and strong selling points in offers.