- 74% would relocate for a substantially higher salary
- Australia is the most preferred foreign country to work in, followed by Japan and the US
- 58% would rather switch careers than relocate to another country for work
29 OCTOBER 2019 - 72% of respondents in Singapore want to work in a job that allows them to travel internationally. Having overseas exposure is important to workers as they can gain different perspectives, learn new skills from their global counterparts and build a global network of connections.
singaporeans drawn to jobs with global and regional remit
According to Randstad Workmonitor's 2019 Q3 results, having the opportunity to work overseas is an important factor for employees. 78% of respondents aged between 18 and 34 are even willing to relocate to pursue a meaningful career.
Managing Director of Randstad Singapore and Malaysia, Ms. Jaya Dass said, "Many multinationals and large local firms are establishing or expanding their regional teams to drive global innovation and increase their global market share from Singapore. As a result, we have observed an increasing number of global and regional-level roles based in Singapore, particularly in the areas of business development, sales and marketing, accounting and finance, and even software development. Employees in regional roles tend to get more opportunities to travel to other markets to spearhead pilots or facilitate operations and campaigns. These jobs are also particularly attractive to the local talent as they get to manage a larger team, connect with and learn from their global counterparts as well as gain new exposure and experiences."
singaporeans are willing to emigrate if they can get higher pay and live a healthier life
79% of respondents are open to the idea of moving overseas if they can have both a meaningful career and good work-life balance. 74% would relocate for work for a substantially higher salary and 66% will do so if it means that they can keep their jobs with their current employers.
The choices for locally-based respondents top three markets to relocate to are Australia, Japan and the US, respectively. Companies based in these markets are known to spearhead global initiatives, use more advanced technologies and have a relatively high-skilled workforce. The opportunity to be a part of a larger team and have more access to resources are considered appealing to the local workforce.
respondents want to continue calling Singapore home
Across the three markets, respondents in Singapore are seen to be the most grounded. 58% of local respondents would rather switch career than move to another country.
Dass shares, "A majority of the locals would choose to stay in Singapore to remain close to their friends and family because of its relatively stable and safe environment. However, as employees progress in their careers, they will eventually take on regional responsibilities and may be required to travel to another country or even move abroad for a short period of time to work. Some senior professionals will also get to travel to attend conferences and trainings. Workers with overseas exposure are more attractive to companies, as they have an extensive global network to leverage on and could potentially improve productivity and efficiencies by bringing best practices and learnings into the firm."
work mobility and job satisfaction in singapore
22% of respondents in Singapore had changed employers in the past six months and 40% have showed interest in looking for a job. 40% said that while they are not actively looking for a job, they will be interested if an opportunity comes by.
"While workers are drawn to a higher salary when changing employers, they would also consider other factors such as work-life balance, work atmosphere and leadership capabilities. Companies that want to attract and retain good talent should invest time into understanding the elements that contribute to an employee's job satisfaction, and how they can help make their employees feel more comfortable and confident at work. When companies invest in creating a wholesome and positive employee experience, workers will be less likely to explore other options, even if they come knocking," Dass adds.
The 2019 Randstad Workmonitor Q3 survey was conducted from July 18, 2019 to August 5, 2019.
download the full copy of the randstad workmonitor: Q3 2019
media contact
rena tan
regional marketing and communications director
rena.tan@randstad.com.sg
alistar lien
regional senior PR & communications specialist
alistar.lien@randstad.com.sg
related workmonitor research:
- 83% want employers to invest in building digital capabilities
- 1 in 4 employees feel uncomfortable during performance reviews
- singapore employees prefer their managers to be of the same age or older
about the randstad workmonitor
The Randstad Workmonitor was launched in 2003, and now covers 34 markets 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 6 months, provides a comprehensive understanding of sentiments and trends in the job market. Besides mobility, the survey addresses employee satisfaction and personal motivation as well as a rotating set of themed questions.
The study is conducted online among employees aged 18-65, working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid job (not self-employed). The minimum sample size is 400 interviews per market. The Dynata panel is used for sampling purposes. The third survey of 2019 was conducted from 18 July until 5 August 2019.
about randstad
Randstad is the global leader in the HR services industry. We support people and organisations in realising their true potential. We do this by combining the power of today's technology with our passion for people. We call it Human Forward.
Our recruitment services range from regular temporary Staffing and permanent placements to Inhouse Services, Professionals, and HR Solutions, including Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Managed Services Programmes and outplacement.
Randstad has active operations in 38 markets around the world and has top-three positions in almost half of these. In 2018, Randstad had on average 38,820 corporate employees and 4,826 branches and Inhouse locations. In 2018, Randstad generated revenue of €23.8 billion. Randstad was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Diemen, the Netherlands. Randstad N.V. is listed on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam, where options for stocks in Randstad are also traded.
Hear what our leaders have to say about #HumanForward or learn more about our Human Forward brand promise.