Salaries are no longer the top reason why workers in the emerging field of artificial intelligence decide to join a company, according to new data.

Creators and heavy users of AI actually put support for their health and well-being in the workplace ahead of how much they get paid to do their jobs, a quarterly report from management consulting firm McKinsey & Company showed.

The percentage of workers across all industries that plan to quit their current jobs in the next three to six months has dropped from 40% in 2021 to 34% this year, but that figure currently stands at 51% for workers in the AI sector, according to a McKinsey survey.

"Many company leaders believe that workers in these groups are leaving at higher rates because they can find better compensation elsewhere," the report said.

"Yet an examination of the employee-value-proposition (EVP) factors that resonate most with these segments busts the myth, once again, that compensation is a primary motivator."

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AI workers actually put a higher priority on having workplace flexibility and receiving a sense of belonging, care and reliability from employers, the survey showed.

"The other factors that make them stay are meaningful work, support for health and well-being, reliable and supportive coworkers and a safe workplace environment," it said.

The survey also revealed that 72% of AI workers feel engaged at work, versus 77% of workers across all industries, but a "worrying" 55% of AI workers reported clinical levels of burnout, compared to 32% of workers in all other sectors.

"In other words, companies may not be getting the productivity and engagement that they expect from these workers."

AI workers also put stronger emphasis on relationships with peers and managers and a sense of community compared to workers in other industries, according to the analysis.

"Specifically, half say that reliable and supportive people are crucial, and nearly half emphasize the importance of caring and inspiring leaders," the report states.

"Roughly two in five say that meaningful work and an inclusive community are core motivators, even above flexibility, which registered as of primary importance to those staying in their jobs."

Compensation is ranked seventh on the roster of reasons why AI workers accept a job offer, the survey added.

"People won't come just for the money, and they certainly won't stay for it."

Price Action: AI companies that employ these workers are moving higher at the time of publication Wednesday.

• Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is up 11.3% to $115.48.
• Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is up 2.2% to $473.33.
• Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:ANET) is up 9% to $339.78.
• Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is up 2.8% to $186.88.
• Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) is up 2.3% to $325.11.

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Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.