randstad workmonitor, results 4th quarter 2016: digital awareness is rising, but we’re not there yet.

Although globally 84% of the respondents acknowledge the importance for their current employer to have a digital strategy, only 59% state that the company they work for actually has one, according to the latest findings of the Randstad Workmonitor. The employers that score high on this scale are in India (84%) and China (81%) whereas employers in Japan (42%) and Hungary (41%) score at the low end.

With regard to digitization, 68% of the global respondents agree that the employees at their current employer do not have the required skill sets that are necessary for digitization and 62% admit that they personally need to acquire more skills in order to guarantee their future employability.

In addition, 62% of the global respondents state that they could add more personal value to their work if repetitive tasks could be automated whereas the number of respondents in China and India are much higher (92% and 85% respectively). Where 42% of the global respondents agree that they actually perform a lot of routine tasks that could be automated, the numbers in India (80%), Turkey (76%), Malaysia (74%) and China (70%) rather differ.

Economic outlook

Globally, 52% of the respondents expect the economic situation in their country to improve whereas 58% said so in the last two years. With regard to their current employer’s financial performance, 68% expect this to improve into 2017, whereas last year 71% did so. Findings compared to the global number quite differ in India (94%), China (83%) and the US (83%). Globally, approximately 50% of the respondents expect to receive a raise and/or a financial bonus at the end of the fiscal year. In India, expectations are much higher, as 92% of the respondents state to expect a raise and 83% a financial bonus. 

Quarterly recurring observations

Mobility Index down to 108

Fewer employees worldwide expect to be employed elsewhere in the coming six months than they did in the previous quarter, so the Mobility Index has decreased to 108. The lowest point in the last 2.5 years. The biggest decreases are in India (-9), Germany (-8), Argentina , Australia and Czech Republic (all -7). Mobility increased in Denmark (+5), Malaysia, and the UK (both +4).

Petra Timm, Director Group Communications Randstad Germany clarifies: “Since 2010, Germany has always had a low mobility index. This can be explained by the fact that German employees overall have a high level of job satisfaction, while the unemployment rate is low in comparison to the European level and the economic situation is stable. Therefore, for German employees there is not necessarily a need to change jobs.”

Actual job change down to 22%, highest in India

For the first time in four quarters actual job change is down to the same level as end 2015: 22%. The actual job change increased in Australia, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Hungary, India, New Zealand, Poland, Spain and the Netherlands. In Hong Kong, Italy and Luxembourg the job change decreased compared to last quarter. And, although increased from 7 to 10%, actual job change in Luxembourg is – for the fifth quarter in a row – again the lowest. 

Appetite to change jobs highest in India

Compared to last quarter, the job change appetite, i.e., the desire to change jobs, increased in China, Denmark, Greece, Hong Kong and Italy. Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, India, Malaysia, Poland, Switzerland and the US show a decrease in appetite compared to previous quarter.

Job satisfaction highest in Mexico and the US

Compared to last quarter, job  satisfaction increased in Czech Republic and New Zealand. Job satisfaction decreased in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Poland, Portugal, Singapore and UK.

The Randstad Workmonitor

The Randstad Workmonitor was launched in the Netherlands in 2003, then in Germany, and now covers 33 countries around the world. The last country to join was Portugal in 2014. The study encompasses Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas. The Randstad Workmonitor is published 4 times a year, making both local and global trends in mobility visible over time.

The Workmonitor’s Mobility Index, which tracks employee confidence and captures the likelihood of an employee changing jobs within the next 6 months, provides a comprehensive understanding of sentiments and trends in the job market. Besides mobility, the survey addresses employee satisfaction and personal motivation as well as a rotating set of themed questions.

The study is conducted online among employees aged 18-65, working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid job (not self-employed). Minimum sample size is 400 interviews per country. The Survey Sampling International (SSI) panel is used for sampling purposes. The fourth wave of 2016 was conducted from October 26 – November 9, 2016.