New Zealand workers on the move

New Zealand workers’ confidence in finding a new job rose to its highest level this year, according to the latest Randstad Workmonitor Mobility Index.

The report, commissioned by specialist recruitment & HR services company, Randstad, tracks jobseeker confidence and provides a comprehensive understanding of job market sentiments and trends relating to the employment market.

Randstad’s mobility index tracks changes in the expectation of workers to be employed at a new workplace in the next six months. It shows confidence among New Zealand workers has risen eight points, after tumbling five points from the first quarter of 2011, suggesting assurance in the job market continues to grow following earlier economic challenges.

Director of Randstad New Zealand, Paul Robinson, says these results highlight a significant change in perception within the job market, showing employees are considerably more confident compared to three months ago.

“The New Zealand economy hit a series of speed bumps earlier this year, and worker confidence levels reflected this. It’s natural, in times of uncertainty, for employees to tread a cautious path and stick with what they know is safe.

“It will be an interesting few months as New Zealand business and workers react to the recent credit rating downgrade. The economy was starting to show greater strength, and we were seeing employee mobility return as other key economic indicators reflected a more positive outlook. However with recent announcements from ratings agencies such as Fitch and Standard & Poors, this may impact on confidence and mobility,” he says.

Other findings from Randstad’s Workmonitor show 36 percent of employees believe working part-time is damaging to their career opportunities. Interestingly, the same number of respondents believe working part-time is definitely possible in a management situation.

The report shows only 20 percent of New Zealanders work part-time, although 60 percent of respondents say their organisation facilitates employees wishing to work part-time.

Global Comparison

In a global context, New Zealand ranks eighth for actual mobility, with 18 percent of Kiwi respondents having changed jobs in the previous six months.

In the Asia Pacific region, New Zealand workers were among the least concerned about climbing the corporate ladder, with only 62 percent claiming promotion was a focus, ahead of 57 percent of Australians. This compares to 88 percent of Indian respondents, 81 percent of Chinese respondents, and 71 percent of Singapore respondents. Outside of Asia Pacific, 86 percent of Mexican respondents are focused on landing a promotion and 82 percent of Italian workers.

The third quarter Randstad Workmonitor 2011 also found:

· 6% of Kiwi workers are very frightened of losing their job
· 14% are actively looking for a new job
· 73% are not actively looking for a new job
· 68% are satisfied or very satisfied with their job
· 10% are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their job
· 63% are focused on getting a promotion
· 60% feel the need to do something completely different in their career

New Zealand joins 28 countries across the world in the quarterly Randstad Workmonitor research. Workmonitor is significant to New Zealand as it highlights local and global trends.