KUCHING: Nine in 10 or 90 percent of Malaysians will settle and work abroad for better career opportunities and work-life balance. Australia is the most preferred foreign country to work in, followed by Singapore and Japan. Companies in these markets are perceived to be able to provide higher salaries and support healthier work-life initiatives. These markets also have better currency exchange rates, which are appealing to locally-based talents.
Eighty-five percent will move for a substantially higher salary while 71 percent will do so if it means that they can keep their jobs with their current employers.
Eighty-five percent of Malaysians are willing to emigrate for a substantially higher salary whereas this factor does not seem as important to HongKongers (67 percent).
Unlike Malaysians, Hongkongers are not as willing to emigrate. Eighty-seven percent of them are willing to travel for an interesting job. This could mean that the respondents are aspiring for global or regional roles, or want to have the chance to be rotated for training and development programmes in other markets, while still being able to call Hong Kong home.
Singapore-based employees, meanwhile, are found to be the most grounded of the bunch, as 58 percent would rather switch careers than move to another country.
These are the outcome of Q3-Survey carried out by Randstad Workmonitor between July 18 and Aug 5 this year.
The results of the survey, also found that eight in 10 (80%) respondents in Malaysia, wanted to work in a role that allowed them to travel.
The respondents were of the opinion that an overseas exposure was important as it enabled them to gain different perspectives, learn new skills from their global counterparts and build a global network of connections.
The Workmonitor 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.
Launched in 2003, Randstad Workmonitor 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.
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.
According to the survey results, having the opportunity to work in another country is an important factor for employees. Close to nine in 10 respondents (89 percent) aged between 18 and 34 in Malaysia are even willing to emigrate to pursue a meaningful career in another
country.
Randstad Singapore and Malaysia managing director Jaya Dass said, “Young employees are highly-motivated and eager to learn new skills, meet new people and experience new encounters.
“They are also more willing to emigrate as many of them do not have family responsibilities yet.”
