advancing technology one of the main drivers to intensify collaboration.

60% of employees worldwide indicate they work better in a team than they do individually, according to the latest findings of the Randstad Workmonitor. Roughly the same number of respondents (61%) say they now spend more time on collaborating with colleagues than they did five years ago. And this percentage will only increase, as 87% agree that the importance of collaboration is growing with the advancement of technology. After all, connectivity has evolved to the extent that everyone can be in touch with the rest of the world 24/7 via multiple devices.

There is more than individual performance alone

Employees globally agree that there are processes and practices in place to encourage collaboration instead of favoring individual competition (72%) and that collaboration is rewarded and recognized by their employer (62%). However, more than half (51%) indicates that as long as their appraisals are based on individual performance, there is no added value in collaboration. Employers are called to action to spend more time on promoting collaboration in their organizations (say 74%).

The power of a team

Working in teams requires specific social skills, say 89% globally. It is therefore crucial know your co-workers and to discover what drives and motivates them, say 87%. Three quarters of the respondents (76%) prefer working together face-to-face instead of in virtual teams with colleagues in different locations. A differentiator in the performance of teams is whether they include diverse team members: 73% say diverse teams always outperform teams with similar members. 86% see team diversity as having people with varied work experience, competences and skills; while 77% agree diversity lies in team members with differences in age, gender, and cultural background.

Quarterly recurring items

Mobility Index rises to 110

The number of employees who expect to find another job within six months has again increased by 1 point since the last quarter, to 110. The Mobility Index is rising steadily over time, its lowest point in two years being 106 (in 2012). The highest increase in mobility compared to last quarter can be found in Chile & New Zealand (+7) and Austria (+6); the greatest decline in mobility is found in Switzerland (-6) and Mexico (-5).

Overall 24% of the employees worldwide actually changed jobs in the last six months. Roughly 50% of those change jobs within the same company. Job change is highest in India, Malaysia and China and lowest in Luxembourg, Hungary and Belgium..

Job satisfaction: Norway has highest % of very satisfied employees

There is a slight increase in job satisfaction in Brazil, China, Denmark and Switzerland compared to the second quarter of 2014. Employees in Argentina, Greece, Luxembourg and Spain became somewhat less satisfied with their employer compared to last quarter.

The Randstad Workmonitor

The Randstad Workmonitor was launched in 2003, and now covers 33 countries around the world, encompassing Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas. The Randstad Workmonitor is published four times a year, making both local and global trends in mobility regularly visible over time.

The Mobility Index, which tracks employee confidence and captures expectations surrounding the likelihood of changing employers within a six-month time frame, provides a comprehensive understanding of job market sentiments and employee trends. In addition to measuring mobility, also employee satisfaction and personal motivation, as well as a rotating set of themed questions are part of the survey.

The quantitative study is conducted via an online questionnaire among a population aged 18-65, working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid job (not self-employed). The minimal sample size is 400 interviews per country, using Survey Sampling International. Research for the 3rd wave in 2014 was conducted July 22nd - August 5th, 2014.