Today’s Workforce is Planning Ahead: Results from G-P’s 2022 Global Employee Survey

Today’s workforce is planning ahead.

G-P’s 2022 Global Employee Survey gathered input from thousands of employees across nine regions and revealed that today’s workforce is actively invested in their professional futures and careers — and despite recent waves of economic uncertainty, are interested in pursuing new opportunities and industries.

This year’s survey asked respondents from around the world to share information including their likes and dislikes about their current positions, as well as what perks, benefits, opportunities and other values they most desired from their careers. According to the survey, modern employees determine the value of their careers by more than their paychecks – and desire options like greater flexibility and the ability to take advantage of new and emerging professional opportunities.

The survey also highlighted that worldwide, today’s employees focus on professional development, with an emphasis on new opportunities for reskilling and additional training– no matter where they’re based. In tandem with this desire to pursue upskilling, the survey found that when it comes to the most encouraging reasons to switch careers, the global workforce aligned around the top reasons to make a change:  better pay, in order to feel more fulfilled, and to learn something new – but their desired sectors and areas of interest often varied by region.

Interested in learning more? Findings of the survey, separated by region, include:

United States

• While four in five (79%) American workers said they were happy with their current job, nearly half (45%) would consider putting in their two weeks for the right offer.
• The average worker (42%) would be willing to do an average of two years of education to switch careers
  • Nearly one in four (24%) would be willing to do more than three years
• Workers would most like to change their work model (34%), industry (33%) and health care benefits (31%)
• One-third (33%) of workers are likely to switch jobs within the same sector, but more than one in four (26%) are looking to change careers entirely
• Workers ranked the opportunity to change their work schedule (34%), better pay (34%) and career opportunities that weren’t around when they were younger (34%) as the most encouraging reasons to make a career switch.
• Workers ranked problem solving (40%), organizations skills (35%), decision-making (34%) and teamwork (34%) as their most transferrable skills
• Two thirds of workers (66%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their jobs.
• Workers are most interested in the technology (34%) and engineering (24%) sectors of STEAM

UK

• The average employee in the UK (24%) would be willing to do an average of two more years of schooling or training to switch careers.
  • Only 10% are concerned about the classes they’d have to take if they switched careers
• The most encouraging reasons to change jobs were better pay (51%), wanting to feel more fulfilled (28%) and wanting to learn something new (23%)
• Employees are most interested in the “arts” portion of a STEAM career (22%) – but science (20%) and technology (20%) didn’t fall far behind.
• Workers ranked their organizational skills (57%), attention to detail (57%) and problem solving (56%) as their most transferrable skills.
• A majority (65%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they aren’t happy at their job.
• When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked health care benefits (35%) and collaboration and communication from upper management (31%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.

Israel

• 2 in 5 (40%) would be willing to do up to two years of schooling in order to switch to a new sector or career – and another 1 in 5 (20%) would be willing to do up to four years
  • More than 1 in 4 (27%) are most interested in switching to a career in information technology / tech
• While 74% report feeling happy at their current jobs, 45% would consider another job if the right offer came up
• The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (59%), more career progression (35%) and wanting to feel more fulfilled (31%)
• A majority (80%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
• Workers ranked their most transferrable skills as problem solving (53%), teamwork (49%) and decision-making (47%)
• When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked access to technology (52%), collaboration and communication from upper management (42%), health care benefits (42%), and tools for work improvement or enhancement (42%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them

France

• 32% would do up to two years of schooling to switch to a new sector or career
  • Another 30% would be willing to do just under a year
• While 78% report feeling happy at their current jobs, 44% would consider another job if the right offer came up
• The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (42%), wanting to feel more fulfilled (25%) and wanting to learn something new (21%)
• A majority (66%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
• Workers ranked their most transferrable skills as teamwork (45%), adaptability (44%) and organizational skills (34%).
• When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked the company mission (38%), health care benefits (31%) and access to technology (27%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.
• 13% are most interested in switching to a career in healthcare, and another 13% are most interested in switching to a career in social care

Germany

• 34% would do up to two years of schooling to switch to a new sector or career
  • Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) would do up to four years of schooling
• While 78% report feeling happy at their current jobs, more than half (53%) would consider another job if the right offer came up
• The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (49%), more career progression (27%) and wanting to learn something new (24%)
• A majority (66%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
• Workers ranked their most transferrable skills as teamwork (49%), adaptability (41%) and attention to detail (39%)
• When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked collaboration and communication from upper management (36%), access to technology (36%) and health care benefits (33%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.
• 14% were most interested in switching to a career in media and internet

Australia

• 31% would be willing to do up to two years of schooling to switch to a new sector or career
  • Another 28% would be willing to do up to one year of schooling
• While 77% report feeling happy at their current jobs, 43% would consider another job if the right offer came up
• The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (48%), more career progression (26%) and wanting to feel more fulfilled (25%).
• A majority (75%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
• 16% are most interested in switching to a career in business, consulting and management
• Workers ranked their most transferrable skills as problem solving (52%), teamwork (51%) and attention to detail (49%)
• When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked collaboration and communication from upper management (43%), tools for work improvement or enhancement (40%) and health care benefits (39%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.

Singapore

• 1 in 3 (33%) would be willing to do up to two years of schooling to switch to a new sector or career
  • 36% would pursue just under a year of schooling to switch to a new sector or career
• While 69% report feeling happy at their current jobs, 58% would consider another job if the right offer came up
• The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (58%), wanting to learn something new (33%) and more career progression (31%)
• A majority (77%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
• More than 1 in 5 (22%) are most interested in switching to a career in information technology / tech
• Workers ranked problem solving (51%), teamwork (51%) and critical thinking (42%) as their most transferrable skills.
• When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked health care benefits (54%), tools for work improvement or enhancement (50%) and access to technology (48%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.

Japan

• Nearly 1 in 3 (32%) would be willing to do up to two years of schooling in order to switch to a new sector or career
  • 17% would be willing to do up to four years
• While 65% report feeling happy at their current jobs, 54% would consider another job if the right offer came up
• The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (55%), wanting to feel more fulfilled (30%) and wanting to learn something new (26%)
• A majority (77%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
• 14% are most interested in switching to a career in teaching and education
• Workers ranked their most transferrable skills as Adaptability (43%), Teamwork (42%) and Public speaking (34)%
• When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked health care benefits (39%), collaboration and communication from upper management (32%) and access to technology (32%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.

South Korea

• 44% report being happy with their current jobs – and 60% would consider another job if the right offer came up
• The most encouraging reasons to switch careers were better pay (53%), wanting to feel more fulfilled (30%) and wanting different benefits (29%)
• 31% would be willing to do up to two years of schooling in order to switch to a new sector or career
  • Another 38% would be willing to do just under a year
• When deciding to join a company or organization, workers ranked tools for work improvement or enhancement (66%), collaboration and communication from upper management (35%) and access to technology (34%) as the types of programs or opportunities that were most important to them.
• A majority (83%) agree that the quality of their work decreases when they are not happy at their job
• 14% would be most interested in switching to a career in creative arts or design
• Workers ranked their most transferrable skills as problem solving (53%), adaptability (42%) and decision-making (38%).

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Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of thousands of workers across the globe was commissioned by G-P (Globalization Partners) and conducted by market research company OnePoll. OnePoll’s team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).