SINGAPORE (June 19): Macroeconomic uncertainty? Cautious labour market? Workers in Singapore are throwing caution to the wind and planning to switch jobs anyway, if the latest report by recruitment firm Randstad is to be believed.
Nearly two in five Singapore employees surveyed say they have plans to find a new employer in 2019, according to the Employer Brand Research 2019 report.
This is close to double of the 20% of respondents in Singapore that changed employers last year, according to Randstad.
Interestingly, the survey found that some 60% of workers who found new employers in 2018 have the intention to switch jobs again this year.
“When employers create a positive working culture and environment for their people to work in, it can help them attract more qualified candidates and give their employees fewer reasons to look for another job,” says Jaya Dass, managing director of Randstad Singapore and Malaysia.
“Furthermore, companies that invest and excel in enhancing their employee experience will have healthier and more productive workers, which will eventually lead to higher revenue and profits,” he adds.
According to the report, a “limited career path” is the top reason cited by respondents for leaving their employers.
Close to half of Generation Z workers aged 18 to 24 cite this as the top reason for intending to leave, compared to 45% of millennials aged 25 to 34, and 37% of Generation X employees aged 35 to 54.
In addition, some 33% of millennials would apply for jobs in companies that provide robust training programmes to ensure continuous career and skills development, while 42% of Generation Z candidates look for interesting jobs that they can feel excited about.
“Companies that invest in the well-being and development of their people will be able to build a strong employer brand. We have seen organisations benefit significantly from creating positive employee experiences, such as having faster access to better qualified candidates and a highly-engaged workforce,” says Dass.
“However, only a handful of companies have the resources to invest in building a strong employer brand as it is typically not high on the business agenda,” he adds.
Employee experience was also noted to have become increasingly important to the workforce.
Some 48% of Generation Z employees say they want to work in an office that has a pleasant work atmosphere.
“The younger generations are fresh and energetic, and eager to learn new skills, gain new experiences and form new connections,” says Dass. “In addition, younger people do not mind working in the office as it places them in an environment where they can be most productive, since they will have easy access to resources as well as people to exchange ideas with.”
Some 69% of millennials said that they do not mind working in the office. In contrast, 38% of Gen X employees seek that can offer them flexible work arrangements.
“As we get older, our aspirations and needs change. Our personal lives tend to take centre stage, so rather than spending extra time in the office, we may want to spend more time with our family or go on vacations,” Dass explains.
