randstad workmonitor q2 2019: facing the digital future of work with confidence.

• 78% feel equipped with the digitalization in their job
• 68% say that their employer should invest more in developing digital skills
• 34% expect their job to be automated in the coming years

In a digital transforming world, employers continue to struggle in finding people with the right digital skills. Employees need to keep up with digital developments in order to stay employable. 68% of the employees state that their employer should invest more in developing digital skills.

In the latest Randstad Workmonitor, the respondents are facing the future quite confidently, as 78% feel equipped to deal with digitalization in their job (2015: 78%). Brazilians are the most confident: 94% say so whereas the Japanese feel least assured with 39%. Globally, only 34% (2015: 31%) expect their job to be automated within the next five to ten years. This expectation is still highest in India as it has risen to 76% from 69% in 2015. People in the Czech Republic are - like in 2015 - least expecting this with 17%.

science, technology, engineering, mathematics

When it comes to sourcing talent, 61% (2015: 56%) say that their employer has trouble in finding the right talent today as well as in the future. In addition, employers still have a need for workers with STEM profiles (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). The highest need is found in China with 85% (2015: 77%) and the lowest in Denmark with 28% (2015: 29%). The difficulty in filling STEM vacancies is also addressed in the flexibility@work 2019 report, which has found this difficulty has increased since the end of the crisis. Similarly, analysis of vacancy data shows that the median duration of advertising for a STEM vacancy is more than twice as long as for a non-STEM vacancy.

Students should focus on a career in STEM according to 71% of the Workmonitor participants. This is  the highest in India with 89% (2015: 89%) and the lowest in Germany with 50% (2015: 52%). When asked, a significant percentage of participants indicated that if they were 18 again, they would focus on a career in either STEM or digital/online.

the world of STEM

To demonstrate how important and present the field of STEM is in our daily lives, Randstad UK has created a STEMisphere which is a visual representation of some of the connections in the world of STEM. It’s mapping how small elements and discoveries throughout history help us today, and show how STEM has changed the world, created jobs and influenced life as we know it.

quarterly recurring observations

mobility index slightly up

The number of employees worldwide that expect to work for a different employer in the coming six months was somewhat flat in the last three quarters, but has now slightly increased pushing the Mobility Index up to 112. Mobility increased most in India (+12), Czech Republic (+6) and in Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway and Sweden (all +3) . Mobility decreased most in Brazil, Portugal, China (all -6) and in Greece and Italy (-3). There’s no shift in mobility in Austria, Romania, Canada, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

actual job change again highest in India and lowest in Luxembourg

The actual job change went slightly down to 24% compared to the previous quarter. The actual job change increased in Belgium, India and Romania compared to last quarter. Job change decreased in Canada, Czech Republic, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey and the UK. Luxembourg is still the lowest at 6%. Like last quarter, India and Malaysia continue to record the highest percentages (61% and 35% respectively).

appetite to change jobs highest in India, lowest in Turkey

Job change appetite – the desire to change jobs – increased in India, Poland and Singapore compared to last quarter. In Canada, China, Malaysia, Portugal and Turkey, the job change appetite decreased. The appetite to change jobs is still highest in India (55%) and this quarter the lowest in Turkey (11%).

job satisfaction - like previous quarter - highest in India, lowest in Japan

Compared to the previous quarter, job satisfaction increased in Canada, China, Germany and Spain. Job satisfaction decreased in Italy, New Zealand and Norway. In both India and Japan, job satisfaction increased with 1% to 86% and 43% respectively.

Country data are available in the global report:

about the randstad workmonitor

The Randstad Workmonitor was launched in the Netherlands in 2003, and covers 34 countries around the world. The study encompasses Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas. The Randstad Workmonitor is published four 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 Dynata panel is used for sampling purposes. The second survey of 2019 was conducted from 23 April until 9 May 2019.