68% Malaysians ‘totally committed’ to their jobs: Survey

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is one of the top Asian countries for employee engagement, with 68% of people saying they were either "totally committed" or "committed" to their jobs, the latest findings from the Kelly Global Workforce Index (KGWI) show.
This compares with 63% in Singapore, 64% in Thailand and Hong Kong, 73% in China and 80% in Indonesia. Globally, less than a third of employees are "totally committed" to their current employer, and while this level has remained consistent since 2012, it represents a sharp decline from 43% in 2010.
Nearly 230,000 people in 31 countries participated in the survey, including 2,300 in Malaysia.
Over a third of Malaysian workers admitted feeling less loyal than a year ago (37%), with only 13% feeling highly valued by their employers; 61% will look to change jobs over the next 12 months.
The latest KGWI, called Engaging Active and Passive Job Seekers, found that globally, candidates who are looking for a job strongly favoured getting periodic contact from employers about relevant work opportunities that fit their skill sets and interest. In Asia Pacific the figure was 48%, while in Europe, the Middle East and Africa it was 58%.
A better salary and benefits are the main reason Malaysians move jobs (71%), with the figure even higher among Gen Y workers (77%). Other factors are management issues (52%), career advancement (47%), and a better work-life balance (45%). Interestingly over half say working with colleagues from whom they can learn influences employment decisions, highlighting the growing importance of peer learning.
Employees also have a clear idea about the environment they want to work in, with flexible working arrangements highly sought after (70%), as is the chance to operate in a highly collaborative environment (63%), or work in a virtual team that uses technology or IT to cross time zones and geographies (59%).
Kelly Services Malaysia and India managing director Kamal Karanth said more needs to be done by employers to retain staff in the long term.
"While salary and benefits are central to an employee's priorities; advancement and learning from others are all crucial in their job decision, suggesting an ambitious workforce that is eager to learn and progress.
In Malaysia, some 60% of candidates said they would be more inclined to search for jobs via social media than traditional methods, compared with a global average of 36%.