Financial security is the main concern for many members of the rudely named Generation Y, according to a recent survey.

While job security is important to many (26 per cent), it is being provided with a good salary and benefits package that wins out (33 per cent) for Gen Y workers (aged 21 to 28), found a study by Robert Half International and Yahoo! Hotjobs.

Surprisingly, career satisfaction ranked third at 23 per cent, as many Gen Y professionals are more concerned with being able to sustain themselves financially and have the security of being employed.

"The Gen Y professionals we surveyed were focused on practical concerns, such as saving enough money for retirement and being able to balance work and family obligations," said Reesa Staten, senior vice president and director of workplace research for Robert Half International.

Only 18 per cent of respondents had either no main concern, had another concern or simply did not know at the time.

According to the survey, it is important for employers to understand what most Generation Y employees want. Today their main priority is to be able to grow within the company, have a competitive salary and benefits plan and the security of knowing they are not dispensable.

"Gen Y workers want the best healthcare and retirement benefits employers can provide as well as defined career paths. To recruit these professionals, firms should make these programs easy to understand, promote them in detail on the company website and highlight them during the interview process," Staten said.

The survey also asked respondents to explain their concerns; here are a few of the responses:

• "Getting paid enough to both save for retirement and enjoy the present."
• "How long I have to work into my golden years to secure a good retirement."
• "If I will ever be able to afford a future: a house, a wedding, children and retirement."
• "That I won't make enough money to provide a good life for my family, with rising costs of everything from fuel to homes and food."
• "If there will be enough jobs for the number of job seekers."
• "My number-one career concern for the future is advancement. A time will come when I need to decide if I should stay at my current position, or if I should take a new, better job. My concern is knowing how to tell when that moment comes."
• "Whether or not I'll enjoy my work, going to work when you hate it is so hard and tiring."
• "If I want to change careers, how much more will I have to put into going back to school? How much is it going to cost me to change my career, and will it be worth it?"

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