Kiwis more likely to fly the nest: Randstad Workmonitor

Media release
Kiwis more likely to fly the nest: Randstad Workmonitor

Auckland, August 4, 2011: Kiwis are twice as likely as our Australian counterparts to leave the country and work overseas, according to the latest Randstad Workmonitor.

The report, commissioned by specialist recruitment and human resources services company Randstad, shows that despite most New Zealanders being satisfied in their jobs, they are still likely to want to work abroad in the future.
A huge 74 per cent of New Zealand respondents felt that they were likely to pursue a career abroad, compared with a much smaller 37 per cent of Australian respondents.

The quarterly Randstad Workmonitor report tracks employee confidence, providing a comprehensive understanding of job market sentiment and trends relating to the employment market.

Results from the latest survey have also found that more than half of New Zealand employees (51%) feel their career demands more education and training than ever before. However, it also revealed that 48 per cent of respondents don’t feel their organisation meets their needs and requirements in this area, a factor employers need to be mindful of.

General Manager of Randstad New Zealand, Paul Robinson, says these results highlight a significant need for employers to up-skill staff in order to help them manage the increasingly demanding nature of their jobs and ensure employee retention.

“The fact that almost half of New Zealand respondents feel their organisation doesn’t meet their training and development needs is concerning.

Professional development is becoming increasingly important for improving the competency and effectiveness of employees, as well as helping them keep on top of the latest industry advancements. Development programmes are a great way to gain that competitive edge in the ever-changing professional landscape. Good programmes help employers attract and keep the best talent in a business.”

Additionally, more than half of New Zealand respondents (58%) indicated that the requirements of their job had increased over the past 12 months without additional benefits being offered to compensate. Interestingly, few New Zealanders feel that these requirements are beyond their abilities (13%), compared to 26 per cent of Australians.

In terms of job satisfaction, the New Zealand figure remained stable at 68 per cent (compared to 67 per cent last quarter). Across the Tasman, job satisfaction in the second quarter fell from 78 per cent to match our New Zealand figure.

Reassuringly, confidence in the local job market is also creeping up with 72 per cent of people comfortable they would get a comparable job between now and the end of the year (69 per cent last quarter). Confidence has also increased in Australia, but has fallen in the UK in line with the weakening economy.

“With market confidence growing and the Rugby World Cup and election both looming, we’d hope to see a curbing of the trend for staff intending to work abroad over the next few quarters,” adds Robinson.

New Zealand was included in the Randstad Workmonitor research for the first time in the January-March 2011 quarter, joining 28 countries across the world. The Randstad Workmonitor report is significant to New Zealand as it highlights local and global trends.

The quantitative study was conducted via an online questionnaire among a population aged 18-65, working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid job. Research was conducted from May 2 to 13, 2011.

ENDS

An in-depth analysis of the global results is available on request.

Randstad Workmonitor
After successfully introducing the Workmonitor in the Netherlands in 2003 and more recently in Germany, the survey now covers 28 countries around the world. The study encompasses Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas. The Randstad Workmonitor is published four times a year, making both local and global trends in mobility visible over time.

The Workmonitor’s Mobility Index, which tracks employee confidence and captures the likelihood of an employee changing jobs within the next six months, provides a comprehensive understanding of sentiments and trends in the job market.

About Randstad
Randstad is a Fortune 500 Company and one of the world’s largest recruitment & HR services organisations. The Randstad Group employs more than 520,000 people every day with the aim of “Shaping the world of work”. Visit www.randstad.co.nz for further information.

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