randstad workmonitor q4 2017: who’s responsible for employability? positive employee outlook for 2018.

A vast majority of employees worldwide consider that staying employable is their own responsibility, according to the latest Randstad Workmonitor survey. Globally, 85% say so, whereas 81% state it’s a shared responsibility between themselves, their employer and the government. From the global respondents, 80% understand that their employer will support their personal development, only if this is line with the employer’s business goals.

role of government

Governments are also attributed a significant role in keeping the workforce employable: 84% of the global respondents think that governments should offer incentives (e.g., taxes, subsidies) to employers in order to help them doing so, albeit 85% think that employees should be offered these incentives if they develop professionally / learn new professional competences / stay employable. Finally, 67% think that governments should be more demanding towards the workforce to keep up their employability.

older employees

With regard to raising the State Pension age, 86% think that governments also should invest in keeping the workforce employable. And in helping older employees staying employable 74% of the global respondents think that this can only be achieved with support from employers whereas 62% believe this can only be done with help from governments.

economic and financial outlook

Overall, employees’ sentiment with regard to the economic situation in their country as well as their employer’s financial performance are more positive than last year. Their expectations to receive a pay rise or bonus have also increased compared to last year.

Quarterly recurring observations 

Mobility Index stable at 109

With a Mobility Index score of 109, the number of employees worldwide expecting to work for a different employer in the coming six months remained stable compared to the previous three quarters. Mobility was up most in China (+9), Canada (+8), Chile (+7) and Mexico (+6). The biggest decreases in mobility are found in Norway (-7), Switzerland (-5), Australia (-4) and Spain, Hong Kong and Japan (all -3). There’s no shift in mobility in Belgium, Denmark, Portugal and the UK.

Actual job change flat at 23%; again highest in Malaysia and India

Actual job change remained flat at 23% and is again highest in Malaysia and India. Compared to last quarter, the actual job change increased in Brazil, India, Singapore, Spain and Switzerland. In Chile, China, Hungary and Poland. the actual job change decreased. The actual job change is still lowest in Luxembourg (8%).

Appetite to change jobs still highest in India

Job change appetite, i.e., the desire to change jobs increased in Japan and the UK and decreased in Denmark, Hong Kong, Norway, Singapore and Switzerland compared to last quarter. The appetite to change jobs is highest in India (40%) and lowest in Portugal (17%).

Job satisfaction highest in Mexico

Compared to the previous quarter, job satisfaction increased in Chile, Greece, Malaysia and the US whereas in Hungary the job satisfaction decreased. Job satisfaction is highest in Mexico (83%) and lowest in Japan (44%).



Country data are available in the Global Report at https://www.randstad.com/workforce-insights/randstad-workmonitor/

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). The minimum sample size is 400 interviews per country. The Survey Sampling International (SSI) panel is used for sampling purposes. The fourth survey of 2017 was conducted from October 24 – November 8, 2017.