randstad workmonitor q1 2018 - working at the office still rules.

Contrary to what is generally thought, the traditional way of working, i.e., at the office during opening hours, still rules among the respondents of the latest Randstad Workmonitor. Globally, 68%  agree with this sentiment, with India (85%) at the highest end and The Netherlands (47%) at the lowest end. Having said this, there is a clear shift toward an agile way of working, i.e., from multiple locations and outside standard opening hours, going on. In India and China the shift is highest (69% and 66% respectively) and in Czech Republic (28%) lowest. 41% of the global respondents report to be already working in a real agile environment with India once again in the lead (64%) and Luxembourg and Greece (both 27%) at the lowest end of the range.

work-life balance

82% of the global respondents like agile working as it allows them to maintain a good work-life balance and 81% say it improves their productivity, creativity and job satisfaction. On the other hand, 44% indicate that it causes a lot of pressure on their personal life, as they never seem to be ‘disconnected’ from work. Strikingly, 47% of the male respondents have that feeling whereas 40% of the female respondents say to do so.

work location

65% of the global respondents prefer to work from home or another location from time to time, and 56% state that their employer provides them with the technological equipment to do so. 64% of the global respondents say they would prefer to work from home or another location, but they unfortunately don’t have the possibility to do so in their job. Finally, 59% globally prefer to work at the office and in this respect India leads with 81% and the Netherlands scores lowest with 47%.

personal contact 

In order to stay informed and aligned with colleagues, 69% of the global respondents say they regularly have in-person or face-to-face meetings, versus 36% stating they have virtual team meetings via video conferencing. India (74%) and China (70%) score highest on the virtual meeting scale, and Austria, Hungary (both 20%) and Luxembourg (15%) score lowest.

work autonomy

When it comes to having the freedom to organize and prioritize their own work, 66% of the global respondents say they have it, whereas 48% say that their work is being prioritized by their manager and 56% state that their manager tells them what to do. Autonomy in one’s work is shown to increase by age:

Quarterly recurring observations 

Mobility Index once again flat 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 last two quarters. Mobility  increased most in Norway (+7), Singapore (+5), and Germany (+4). The biggest decreases in mobility are found in Canada (-7), Turkey (-6), and Italy (-5). Argentina, Chile, China, Hong Kong, India, Denmark, Hungary and Portugal show no shift in mobility.

Actual job change slightly decreased to 22%; again highest in India and Malaysia

Actual job change went slightly down to 22% and it is again India reporting the highest increase (44%), followed by Malaysia (39%). Compared to last quarter, the actual job change increased in Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Hungary, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland and Turkey. In Czech Republic and Denmark the actual job change decreased compared to last quarter. In Luxembourg the actual job change is still lowest (6%). 

Appetite to change jobs still highest in India 

Job change appetite, i.e., the desire to change jobs increased in Hong Kong, India, Norway, Turkey, the UK and the US and decreased in Italy, Japan, Spain and the Netherlands compared to last quarter. The appetite to change jobs is highest in India (45%) and lowest in Turkey (15%).

Job satisfaction again highest in Mexico

Compared to the previous quarter, job satisfaction increased in Austria, Hungary, Japan, Sweden and the UK. There are no countries showing a decrease in job satisfaction. Like last quarter, job satisfaction is highest in Mexico (84%) and lowest in Japan (45%).

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 first survey of 2018 was conducted from 10-26 January 2018.