Should your Company Implement a Student Loan Assistance Program?

The simple answer is yes! By doing so, you’ll attract, retain and engage top college-educated talent at your company.

Twenty-six percent of the U.S. workforce and 69 percent of 2018 college graduates are encumbered by student loans, with the national total student loan debt total climbing steadily towards $1.6T. Student loan assistance has quickly become the #1 benefit desired by college-

educated talent. For many, getting out from under student debt is a more meaningful accomplishment than:

Graduating college
Getting their first job
Receiving a promotion

When employers offer student loan assistance, they quickly notice three improvements:

They Hire Top Talent 13 Percent Faster

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports1 that August’s U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8%, and college-educated unemployment2 was even lower at 2.0%, continuing the trend where unemployment rates have reached their lowest point in over 50 years.

In today’s highly competitive market for talent, offering student loan assistance as a benefit is the best way for employers to attract the right people, and fast. The Millennial Benefit Preferences Study3 found that 85 percent of respondents would accept a job offer if student loan repayment was included.

Employee Tenure Increases by 36 Percent

Job hopping is high and replacing talent is expensive and time-consuming. Recruiters must spend both time and money on finding the perfect replacements, and there is often a decrease in overall company productivity after an employee departs.

Employers who make contributions to workers’ student debt engage them in a meaningful way, and in turn, save on costs of recruitment and turnover.

Gender and Cultural Diversity Improve

Did you know?

⅔ of student debt is held by women

African Americans and Hispanics, on average, hold two times more student debt than their white peers
Companies that help pay down student loans can capitalize on a unique opportunity to engage these often underrepresented groups and accelerate the positive impact of gender and cultural diversity within their workplace and beyond.

Peanut Butter is a benefit administration firm built from the ground up to help employers attract, retain, and engage college-educated talent by providing student loan assistance. Are you ready to offer the benefit that 33% of U.S. workers (and 55% of Millennials) are calling a “must have?” Visit getpeanutbutter.com today to get started.

ACR# 346488 4/20

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