SINGAPORE (Nov 28): Having a job that offers good work-life balance is the number one aspiration among Singaporeans as they see it as the definition of “opportunity” , suggests LinkedIn’s inaugural LinkedIn Opportunity Index.
The index is a composite measure of how people perceive opportunity and barriers that may prevent them from getting to these opportunities.
The research surveyed over 11,000 respondents in nine Asia Pacific markets including Singapore, where a significant 48% of respondents indicated having good work-life balance as their “ultimate aspiration” of how they would embark on opportunity.
This proportion was markedly higher than among the surveyed respondents in Australia (46%), Malaysia and the Philippines (both at 44%), all of which exceeded the regional average of 40%.
Other notable definitions of “opportunity” among Singapore respondents included having options in life (43%), chance for a financially rewarding career (35%), and learning a new skill (29%).
Currently, the main opportunities Singaporeans appear to be interested in are gaining a rewarding job in their own market (20%), career advancement (15%) and developing or growing their own business (11%) – exceeding the Asia Pacific average percentages of 13%, 15% and 15%, respectively.
However, a difficult job market (30%) has been cited as the top roadblock for Singaporeans hoping to achieve these opportunities, followed by their financial statuses (26%) and the lack of networks and connections (25%).
Other barriers identified are a lack of professional skills and the lack of direction and guidance.
Based on the findings of its index, LinkedIn notes that Singaporeans overall appear the least confident of gaining access to, and pursuing, their desired opportunities.
This is because the city state was the only one among its peers to fall below the baseline score of “100” for confidence at just 91 points. In comparison, its Asean neighbours Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines scored 116, 101 and 106 in this respect. A higher score represents greater confidence from people living in a specific market.
“The barriers to realising opportunities in life are very real, and despite the diversity of the Asia Pacific region, there are more similarities than differences when it comes to our hopes and aspirations,” comments Olivier Legrand, managing director, LinkedIn in Asia pacific, on the index’s findings.
“The growing workforce in the region is a key asset that, if harnessed effectively, is going to continue to drive the economies,” he adds.
