Understanding employees’ feelings and plans for the future is crucial for organisations to determine their own employment strategies. The “Global Employee Survey 2022” conducted by Globalisation Partners reached thousands of employees in nine regions around the world and found that today’s workforce is actively investing in their professional careers and is interested in pursuing new opportunities and industries despite recent waves of economic uncertainty.
Career is more important than salary
The survey asked respondents from around the world about their job expectations, likes and dislikes, opportunities that interest them, and values that are important to them.
Examples of the responses of the world’s employees to this survey are as follows:
United States
- While four in five (79%) American workers said they were happy with their current job, nearly half (45%) would consider putting in their two weeks for the right offer.
- The average worker (42%) would be willing to do an average of two years of education to switch careers
- Nearly one in four (24%) would be willing to do more than three years
- Workers would most like to change their work model (34%), industry (33%) and health care benefits (31%)
- One-third (33%) of workers are likely to switch jobs within the same sector, but more than one in four (26%) are looking to change careers entirely
- Workers ranked the opportunity to change their work schedule (34%), better pay (34%) and career opportunities that weren’t around when they were younger (34%) as the most encouraging reasons to make a career switch.
- Workers ranked problem solving (40%), organizations skills (35%), decision-making (34%) and teamwork (34%) as their most transferrable skills
- Two thirds of workers (66%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their jobs.
- Workers are most interested in the technology (34%) and engineering (24%) sectors of STEAM
UK
- The average employee in the UK (24%) would be willing to do an average of two more years of schooling or training to switch careers.
- Only 10% are concerned about the classes they’d have to take if they switched careers
- The most encouraging reasons to change jobs were better pay (51%), wanting to feel more fulfilled (28%) and wanting to learn something new (23%)
- Employees are most interested in the “arts” portion of a STEAM career (22%) – but science (20%) and technology (20%) didn’t fall far behind.
- Workers ranked their organizational skills (57%), attention to detail (57%) and problem solving (56%) as their most transferrable skills.
- A majority (65%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they aren’t happy at their job.
- When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked health care benefits (35%) and collaboration and communication from upper management (31%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.
France
- 32% would do up to two years of schooling to switch to a new sector or career
- Another 30% would be willing to do just under a year
- While 78% report feeling happy at their current jobs, 44% would consider another job if the right offer came up
- The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (42%), wanting to feel more fulfilled (25%) and wanting to learn something new (21%)
- A majority (66%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
- Workers ranked their most transferrable skills as teamwork (45%), adaptability (44%) and organizational skills (34%).
- When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked the company mission (38%), health care benefits (31%) and access to technology (27%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.
- 13% are most interested in switching to a career in healthcare, and another 13% are most interested in switching to a career in social care
Israel
- 2 in 5 (40%) would be willing to do up to two years of schooling in order to switch to a new sector or career – and another 1 in 5 (20%) would be willing to do up to four years
- More than 1 in 4 (27%) are most interested in switching to a career in information technology / tech
- While 74% report feeling happy at their current jobs, 45% would consider another job if the right offer came up
- The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (59%), more career progression (35%) and wanting to feel more fulfilled (31%)
- A majority (80%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
- Workers ranked their most transferrable skills as problem solving (53%), teamwork (49%) and decision-making (47%)
- When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked access to technology (52%), collaboration and communication from upper management (42%), health care benefits (42%), and tools for work improvement or enhancement (42%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them
Germany
- 34% would do up to two years of schooling to switch to a new sector or career
- Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) would do up to four years of schooling
- While 78% report feeling happy at their current jobs, more than half (53%) would consider another job if the right offer came up
- The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (49%), more career progression (27%) and wanting to learn something new (24%)
- A majority (66%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
- Workers ranked their most transferrable skills as teamwork (49%), adaptability (41%) and attention to detail (39%)
- When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked collaboration and communication from upper management (36%), access to technology (36%) and health care benefits (33%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.
- 14% were most interested in switching to a career in media and internet
Australia
- 31% would be willing to do up to two years of schooling to switch to a new sector or career
- Another 28% would be willing to do up to one year of schooling
- While 77% report feeling happy at their current jobs, 43% would consider another job if the right offer came up
- The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (48%), more career progression (26%) and wanting to feel more fulfilled (25%).
- A majority (75%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
- 16% are most interested in switching to a career in business, consulting and management
- Workers ranked their most transferrable skills as problem solving (52%), teamwork (51%) and attention to detail (49%)
- When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked collaboration and communication from upper management (43%), tools for work improvement or enhancement (40%) and health care benefits (39%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.
Singapore
- 1 in 3 (33%) would be willing to do up to two years of schooling to switch to a new sector or career
- 36% would pursue just under a year of schooling to switch to a new sector or career
- While 69% report feeling happy at their current jobs, 58% would consider another job if the right offer came up
- The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (58%), wanting to learn something new (33%) and more career progression (31%)
- A majority (77%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
- More than 1 in 5 (22%) are most interested in switching to a career in information technology / tech
- Workers ranked problem solving (51%), teamwork (51%) and critical thinking (42%) as their most transferrable skills.
- When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked health care benefits (54%), tools for work improvement or enhancement (50%) and access to technology (48%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.
Japan
- Nearly 1 in 3 (32%) would be willing to do up to two years of schooling in order to switch to a new sector or career
- 17% would be willing to do up to four years
- While 65% report feeling happy at their current jobs, 54% would consider another job if the right offer came up
- The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (55%), wanting to feel more fulfilled (30%) and wanting to learn something new (26%)
- A majority (77%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
- 14% are most interested in switching to a career in teaching and education
- Workers ranked their most transferrable skills as Adaptability (43%), Teamwork (42%) and Public speaking (34)%
- When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked health care benefits (39%), collaboration and communication from upper management (32%) and access to technology (32%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.
South Korea
- 44% report being happy with their current jobs – and 60% would consider another job if the right offer came up
- The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (53%), wanting to feel more fulfilled (30%) and wanting different benefits (29%)
- 31% would be willing to do up to two years of schooling in order to switch to a new sector or career
- Another 38% would be willing to do just under a year
- When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked tools for work improvement or enhancement (66%), collaboration and communication from upper management (35%) and access to technology (34%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.
- A majority (83%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
- 14% would be most interested in switching to a career in creative arts or design
- Workers ranked their most transferrable skills as problem solving (53%), adaptability (42%) and decision-making (38%).