Guaynabo, PR, July 16, 2026 – While a competitive salary remains important to today’s workforce, men and women are not necessarily looking for the same things in their next career opportunity. According to FlexJobs’ Women & Men at Work Report, women are more likely to prioritize remote work, flexible schedules, and work-life balance when considering new jobs, while men place a greater emphasis on compensation.
The report surveyed over 1,700 U.S. respondents in June 2026 to better understand how career priorities, financial pressures, and professional goals differ across men and women. FlexJobs’ survey found that while flexibility remains a highly valued benefit across the workforce, it is valued more by working women than men.
“We’re seeing a workforce that is no longer evaluating career opportunities on salary alone,” said Toni Frana, Career Expert Manager at FlexJobs. “While pay is still important, women and men consistently prioritize different aspects of work, specifically flexibility, remote work options, and work-life balance. It’s critical employers understand those priorities to make more informed decisions about how they support and advance talent, and especially women, within their company.”
Women Consistently Place Greater Emphasis on Remote Work & Flexibility
FlexJobs’ report found that when deciding whether to apply for a job, women consistently placed greater importance on remote work and workplace flexibility than men, with the largest gender gaps centered on how, when, and where work gets done.
- Salary/compensation: Salary was equally important for both groups, cited by 66% of women and 68% of men.
- Remote work options: However, 78% of women said remote work influences whether they apply for a job, compared to 70% of men.
- Flexible schedules: 64% of women consider schedule flexibility when applying, versus less than half (49%) of men, the largest gap between the groups.
- Work-life balance: 55% of women said work-life balance influences their decision to apply, compared with 48% of men.
- Benefits: Health insurance, retirement, and other benefits mattered to 46% of women, compared with 39% of men.
- Career growth opportunities: 32% of women cited career advancement opportunities, versus 30% of men.
Women Choose Remote Work While Men Choose Compensation
Similarly when asked which single factor matters most when considering a new job, women again ranked remote work first, while men placed compensation at the top of their list.
- Remote work: Women (37%) | Men (30%)
- Compensation: Women (24%) | Men (31%)
- Flexibility: Women (17%) | Men (15%)
- Job stability: Women (13%) | Men (12%)
Men and Women Motivated by Different Workplace Experiences
Although interesting work remains important across the workforce, women were more likely to say recognition and support drive their on-the-job engagement, while men placed the greatest emphasis on challenging work.
- Feeling valued or recognized: Women (73%) | Men (60%)
- Interesting or challenging work: Women (71%) | Men (73%)
- Learning and growth opportunities: Women (58%) | Men (48%)
- Meaningful work: Women (57%) | Men (52%)
Women Report Higher Stress at Work & Greater Financial Strain
Notably, FlexJobs’ report also found women experience greater workplace stress and financial pressure than men:
- One-third (33%) of women said they often or very often feel stressed at work, compared to less than one-quarter (24%) of men.
- 87% of women say the rising cost of living has worsened their financial situation over the past year, compared with 80% of men.
- 42% of women report significant financial strain, versus 33% of men.
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