A global survey by Censuswide across 14 markets worldwide suggests employees across the surveyed markets are not totally down when it comes to job security (36%), career opportunities (35%), the ability to adapt to changes in 2021 (51%), work-life balance (40%) and productivity (41%).
Commissioned by job site platform Indeed.com noted that among Singaporean employers and the labour force, there is optimism for 2021.
Eighty per cent of Singapore employers polled said employees pulling together over the year helped their company to weather the crisis. They remain optimistic about business continuity, with more than 76% saying their business is prepared to implement COVID safety measures in their workplace.
Caution remains the strategy of first choice with 68% of employers planning to implement improved flexible work options for workers in 2021. Fifty-seven percent of polled employers say that a greater emphasis on health, hygiene and safety will be a permanent fixture in the post-COVID workplace.
One impact of the abrupt shift to remote work in 2020 was an increase in family time, with one in two employees saying “more time with family” had the biggest impact on their personal circumstances in 2021.
Other notable Singapore data points of the survey:
- 41% agree with the need for more visibility over future plans, given concerns over business continuity and future plans for hiring/staff retention’ best applies to them
- 30% are quite optimistic about the job market in 2021
- 36% are open to new work opportunities
- 16% said the statement ‘We plan to hire at higher volumes than before the pandemic’ best describes their companies hiring plans for 2021.
- 22% do not see a difficulty in attracting new talent in 2021
- 45% think ‘Higher job security’ will be the most common reason why talent will join their company in 2021
- 47% agree that the lines between work and life have become permanently blurred and that it's now about work/life blend’ best describes how they feel about the future of work
- 79% say secure, stable employment is one of their top priorities for 2021.
- 58% will switch jobs for better pay
