Nearly half of employees actively looking for a new job

This is despite 86% of employees concerned about job security.

Almost half or 49% of Hong Kong-based employees are actively looking for a new job in 2020, according to an employee pulse survey conducted by Randstad Hong Kong. In addition, 35% are not actively looking but are open to exploring new job opportunities.

This is despite 86% of all respondents saying that they are concerned about their job security in 2020.

Out of those who intend to look for a new job opportunity, 41% said that they are unsatisfied with their current salary and want a job with higher pay. Thirty-three percent expressed that they want to change their career or the industry they work in, 18% said that their skills and work experience do not meet their current job requirements, and 41% cited reasons associated with COVID-19.

Meanwhile, of the 16% of respondents who said that they are not looking for a job this year, 48% said that they are confident that their employers will retain them this year, whilst 30% prefer to wait until after the pandemic before deciding if they want a career switch.

Further, 59% are satisfied with their employer’s response to COVID-19. Meanwhile, 89% of respondents stated that their employers have made flexible working and remote working arrangements, and among them, 23% said that their companies have made working from home a compulsory measure. However, 15% said that their employers made no changes to their workforce arrangements.

Three out of ten employees also said that they do not have adequate technical support when not in the office even though only 5% do not have access to technology tools to collaborate with their teammates when working remotely.

In addition, half of the respondents said that their employers have not announced or implemented any cost-cutting measures, whilst 12% said their companies have placed workers on unpaid leave, 11% had implemented a salary freeze this year, and 10% have announced salary cuts.

The survey also noted that 53% of employees expect their employers to give regular business updates and reassure their employment status, 52% want a mandatory work-from-home arrangement until there is no more community spread, whilst 43% wish for better flexibility for employees living with children and the elderly.