Flexible working times are more important than travel expenses and company pensions to Dutch workers, according to a new report.

The researchers asked 6,800 people to rank 21 different criteria in order of importance. They were divided into five groups: men, women, students, unemployed and people in a permanent job.

Women and students said flexible hours were most important while men opted for a pension and the unemployed for travel expenses. However, over the group as a whole, flexible working beat travel costs and pensions.

The report also shows that pensions are by far the most important issue for older workers. In total, 49% of the over-50s said a pension was the most important secondary benefit, compared with 25% of those just starting out on their careers.

Other benefits which made the top 9 were: lots of holidays, the option of working at home, extra pay (13th month) and extra pay for irregular hours. The report was compiled by by research bureau Intelligence Company.