Out of 39 percent of respondents who plan to change employers this year, 40 percent cited 'limited career path' as the key reason.

Randstad released the findings of its annual Employer Brand Research study in Singapore, the study explores the factors that influence and motivate employees' and job seekers' search for a new career opportunity. 

Jaya Dass, Managing Director of Randstad Singapore and Malaysia said, "Companies that invest in the well-being and development of their people will be able to build a strong employer brand. We have seen organizations benefit significantly from creating positive employee experiences, such as having faster access to better-qualified candidates and a highly-engaged workforce. 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.” 

Young talents are driven towards career progression   

The 2019 Employer Brand Research found that experienced professionals have a more relaxed attitude towards work formalities. Thirty-eight (38) percent of respondents from Generation X (ages 35 to 54) seek companies that can offer them with flexible work arrangements. In contrast, 69 percent of millennials (ages 25 to 34) said that they do not mind working in the office.

One in three millennials (33 percent) would apply for jobs in companies that provide robust training programs to ensure continuous career and skills development. Forty-two percent of Generation Z candidates looks for interesting jobs that they can feel excited about.

Office culture is important to the workforce

Employee experience has also become increasingly important to the workforce. It describes and defines how employees work, the environment that they work in and how they feel about their job.

Close to one in two Generation Z employees (48 per cent) want to work in an office that has a pleasant work atmosphere. Companies that want to engage and attract younger talent should consider the designs of its physical and virtual workspaces, as they set the foundation for cross-team collaborations to take place.

The workplace environment is not the only factor to consider when it comes to employee experience. Employees in Singapore tend to consider resignation when they are not fairly recognized or rewarded (31 percent) or are unable to strike a balance between work and their personal lives (31 percent).

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. 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. 

2 in 5 are looking for a new career opportunity this year

Even though the market sentiments on the economy and labor market are cautious this year, people are still actively looking for new jobs, particularly those who feel that they are facing a roadblock in their career. In Singapore, 39 percent of respondents have plans to change employers in 2019.

The research found that younger job seekers tend to use online channels to look for new opportunities and check on a company's reputation. 2 in 5 millennials (41 percent) read up the latest information on their potential employer on LinkedIn, while 46 percent of Generation Z tend to look for jobs and employers on Google.

"There is a high chance that digitally-attuned youths are looking for their next move on their mobile phones during the commute or before they go to bed. Employers that want to connect with job seekers and engage with their employees need to make sure that information about job openings and internal development opportunities are comprehensive, easily available and accessible to everyone,” Dass concluded. 

Image Credit- The Epoch Times