money most important driver to switch jobs.

Although more than half of the employees (56%) state they have the perfect job, 61% also say that their job is merely a means to make a living and nothing more, according to the latest findings of the Randstad Workmonitor survey in 33 countries. Globally, 75% of the respondents would change jobs if they can make more money elsewhere; 69% would change jobs to improve their career opportunities and 59% would make a switch if they can find a job that better matches their education – even when  71% currently holds a job that matches their educational background. On all three reasons to change jobs, Latin America scores the highest, particularly Mexico. Employees in North-Western Europe and older employees all over the world are more loyal to their employer and less willing to change jobs for more money, better career opportunities or a better educational fit.

Does your first job determine the rest of your career?

Not necessarily, says 56% globally. But in Turkey, China and India, 74% up to 82% of the employees state that the first job has a high impact on the rest of their career. Interestingly enough, when asked if employees landed their first job by coincidence, India (71%) and China (63%) together with Hong Kong (65%) score much higher than the global average of 47%. This implies that employees who make a conscious choice on their first job, feel more confident about being in charge of their careers than employees who entered the job market without having thought too much about future career moves. Still, most believe, also in these countries, that you can always switch jobs at any time in your career. Older workers (48% of 55+) and Japanese employees (44%) score below the worldwide average (58%).

72% of employees worldwide see temporary work as a stepping stone to a permanent job, with Denmark (84%), China (83%) and Brazil (82%) at the high end. Overall, most employees would use a staffing agency to find a new job if they were unemployed (global average 69%).

The rise of technology, opportunity or threat?

According to 71% of the employees worldwide, technology has a large impact on their job, but they see this as an opportunity (73%), especially in Latin America (87%). In Argentina almost all employees (95%) see the impact of technology as a positive development. In Japan (49%), Belgium (54%) and Austria (58%) employees are less optimistic about the impact of technology. In North-Western Europe employees experience less impact from technology on their jobs (61%) and 82% do not expect that their job will disappear due to the rise of technology. In India 59% do expect that their job will disappear in a couple of years due to the rise of technology, and women believe this more strongly than men (72% female vs. 48% male).

Quarterly recurring items

Mobility Index up to 109

The number of employees who expect to find another job within 6 months is increasing. The Mobility Index, tracking the likelihood of employees finding another job within 6 months, has slightly risen from 107 in the last quarter of 2013, to 108 in Q1 and now to 109 in the second quarter of 2014. Asia and Latin America have the highest mobility and the lowest mobility is once again registered in North-Western Europe. In Czech Republic, India, Switzerland and Mexico more employees expect to find another job within 6 months in comparison to the previous quarter.

Employee confidence increased

Employee confidence in finding a different or comparable job within 6 months has increased. Employee confidence in finding a comparable job increased in Slovakia (+9%), New Zealand (+8%), Luxembourg (+8%) and India (+5%). In Germany it decreased, as well as the confidence of finding a different job (both -8%). Also in Denmark there is a decline of employee confidence in finding a comparable job (-10%), in India it increased (+4%). However, in India the fear of job loss increased as well (+11%). Globally the fear of job loss is stable at 8%.

Job satisfaction highest in Mexico, Norway and India

Job satisfaction around the globe is high and has not changed since the previous quarter. In Mexico (80%), Norway (79%) and India (77%) employees are the most satisfied with their employer and in Japan (40%) and Hong Kong (46%) the least. In Hungary job satisfaction decreased by -9% and this is now one of the countries with the lowest job satisfaction worldwide (48%). Job satisfaction declined in Germany (-7%), and it increased in Chile (+10%).

Focus on promotion increases in Luxembourg

In Europe, Italian employees have the strongest focus on promotion. In Luxembourg the focus on promotion increased in comparison to the first quarter of 2014 (+11%), while in Denmark it decreased (-9%). Denmark is also one of the three Nordic countries which has the least focus on promotion in Europe. Also in Belgium focus on promotion decreased (-9%). Outside Europe, Mexico, India and Brazil have the highest scores, just like in the first quarter of 2014. In Japan, where job satisfaction is relatively low, there is also the least focus on promotion. 

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 2nd wave in 2014 was conducted April 16-May 6, 2014.