Love of job over higher pay has emerged as the number one reason employees prefer to stay with their current employers, revealed a recent survey by an online recruitment firm.

“The top reason why employees stay with their current employers is because they love what they are doing,” a survey conducted by JobStreet.com. stated.

According to a survey result released over the weekend, seventy-five percent of respondents, who are currently looking for work, said salary is a very important factor when it comes to job satisfaction. However, respondents also claimed that salary is not the main reason why they stay with their current employer. The statement did not say how many respondents participated in the survey as well as the period covered.

The survey revealed the top five reasons for people who leave their jobs are: Offer of a higher salary, offer of better benefits, do not get along with colleagues, offer of a better work schedule, and lack of recognition.

On the other hand, people generally stay at their jobs simply because they want to. “I love what I’m doing” is a very strong reason when it comes to job satisfaction. Majority of the respondents, say they stay at their current jobs because they like what they are doing. People leave when they don’t like what they do, regardless of other factors such as compensation, tenure, or having friends in the office.

Top five reasons for employees who stay are: they like what they’re doing, work gives them a sense of purpose, they get along with colleagues, office location is convenient, and good salary and benefits.

Over 65 percent of respondents currently looking for a job have been with their companies for three years or less. This suggests that three years is the average employee’s threshold, or the length of time they can stay with a company until feeling the need to move on to a better career.

The leading online recruitment company has also given some tips to help employees decide whether or not it is worth staying at a company.

Do you like what you’re doing? Are you compensated well for it? Is there area for growth and improvement? Do you see yourself growing old with the company? Will there be a brighter future if you stay or if you leave?

“If an organization values you as an employee and you’re happy with what you do, then maybe it’s time to think long term,” Jobstreet.com said.

JobStreet.com is a leading online recruitment company presently covering the employment markets in Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand. The Group currently services over 80,000 corporate customers and over 10 million jobseekers in its database. JobStreet.com is listed on Main Board of Bursa Malaysia Securities (JOBST).

JobStreet.com Philippines, the country’s oldest online jobs portal, is a joint venture of the publicly-listed JobStreet Malaysia and the Gokongwei-owned JG Summit. The portal serves only as a data base for job seekers and for which companies can tap for recruitment for their manpower supply.

After the applicant has clicked on the icon “apply” for a specific job, it will go straight to the hiring company. JobStreet.com, however, does not handle any recruitment processes.

Every month, the company receives over 250,000 people who applied for jobs. JobStreet.com has a hiring rate or fill rate of as low as 40 percent to as high as 80 percent.