About half of Thais favour changing employers
More than half of the Thai respondents (53 per cent) to the Kelly Global Workforce Index survey believe that changing employers from time to time is more important to advancing their careers than to remain with the same employer for life.
"We are seeing a shifting attitude on the part of employees who are increasingly embracing the idea of working for multiple employers as a way to gain a wider array of work experience while they grow their careers," Wanna Assavakarint, managing director of Kelly Services Thailand, said yesterday.
The KGWI examines issues of job mobility and career progression as part of a shift to a more autonomous and empowered workforce. The survey reflects the changing attitude of workers, with more seeking to gain new experiences and skills with multiple employers. Nearly 170,000 people in 30 countries participated in the survey.
In spite of the lingering uncertainty in the global economy, three-quarters say that if they did change jobs, they would be in a good position to negotiate a similar or better position.
The idea of a career for life with one employer is regarded as relevant by 28 per cent of workers, and those with professional and technical skills are less attracted to the career-for-life (25 per cent) proposition than other workers (35 per cent).
Results of the survey in Thailand also show that more than three-quarters (81 per cent) say experience with multiple employers is an asset in their career development.
More than a third (35 per cent) admit that they actively look for new jobs even when happy in their current ones.
Three-quarters believe that if they changed jobs, they would be in a good bargaining position to secure a similar or better position, while 37 per cent believe they will have the chance to progress or gain a promotion with their current employer.
A quarter (26 per cent) believe their current employer is not realising their full potential.
"Employers face the reality that even happy workers are actively planning for the next step in their career and that many workers are seeing the advantages of wider employment experiences with a more diverse range of organisations," Wanna said.
"Employers need to consider ways to improve their development and promotional programmes so that employees think twice before switching employers."
The Kelly Global Workforce Index is an annual survey revealing opinions about work and the workplace from a generational viewpoint. About 170,000 people from the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa participated in the survey.
Results will be published throughout this year on a variety of topics such as employee retention, social media and the highly virtual workplace. Findings on the current topic can be found at Kellyservices.com.
Kelly Services offers outsourcing and consulting services as well as staffing on a temporary, temporary-to-hire and direct-hire basis. Serving clients around the globe, Kelly provides employment to more than 550,000 people annually. Revenue last year was US$5.6 billion (Bt171 billion).
