Offering relocation benefits to job candidates may be a good move for employers, suggests new research from global staffing firm Robert Half. Fortynine per cent of workers surveyed said they would consider moving for a position.

They identified better pay and perks (46%) as the top motivation for moving to a new city, followed by family or personal reasons (18%) and cost of living (16%).

A separate survey of senior managers in Canada found that, in the past five years, 22% of companies have increased what’s offered in the relocation packages they present to top candidates outside their geographic area. In contrast, 37% of organizations do not offer any incentives for moving.

“In today’s tight hiring environment, many employers are open to looking at skilled job seekers outside their local market,” said Greg Scileppi, president of Robert Half, International Staffing Operations. “By considering candidates in other cities, companies are able to explore a greater pool of professional talent – and secure the expertise they need to keep their business competitive.”

Scileppi added, “While there are a number of personal and professional reasons workers may make a move, attractive relocation packages alongside competitive pay, perks and growth opportunities are key motivators.”

The online surveys were developed by Robert Half and conducted by independent research firms. They include responses from more than 500 workers 18 years of age of older and employed in office environments in Canada and more than 600 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees in Canada.