Bangalore: With the job markets opening up now, HR professionals should start focusing on making employees feel valued or they may consider leaving their job. A recent study by auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) revealed that a third of employees say they have not felt valued by their employer throughout the recession and admit they would leave their current position for a new job if the opportunity arose. The study also revealed that respondents who do feel valued by their employer are more willing to stay put, with 41 percent of such individuals saying they plan to remain loyal to their current firm, compared to 23 percent who would take a new job. "As the long-term impact of people management decisions taken during the downturn begins to be felt, the winners and losers of the war for talent are starting to reveal themselves - with those who continued to focus on investment and employee engagement emerging as clear leaders," says Michael Rendell, Partner and Leader, Human Resource Services at PwC. According to Rendell, any company who continued to invest in employees over the past year or so may now find themselves at a competitive advantage. Research conducted last month by PwC highlighted that employers would value rewards such as a gift or meal out from their boss as a thanks for their hard work.