People are continuing to change employers, with as many as 50% moving jobs in the past year. However, of those who made the transition, less than half (45%) now consider themselves as being ‘happy’ in their new role.
The latest findings from the Kelly Global Workforce Index (KGWI) reveal a fifth of people moved jobs for personal growth and advancement, whilst others looked for a better work/life balance, with only 8% seeking better compensation or benefits.
Once in their new role, a fifth found the job differed from what they expected, whilst many found the work less challenging than they were led to believe it would be, suggesting that employees are being mis-sold jobs by prospective employers. As a result, a staggering 69% of employees report they are now looking to change jobs again in the next year.
The role of the line manager hugely impacts an employee’s level of job satisfaction, with 56% of people polled citing it had a significant impact on their level of engagement with their job.
Commenting on the findings, Debbie Pettingill, Director, Kelly Services UK and Ireland said
“Employee retention will become an increasing challenge for employers as we move out of the recession. As we move into a more candidate driven market, this trend is likely to accelerate. Our findings indicate that this problem is being exacerbated by the misrepresentation of job role or company culture at the interview stage, leading to the dissatisfaction of new hires.
“Meanwhile, employee engagement is proving equally challenging. Now, more than ever before, we’re seeing the role of the individual line manager proving critical in determining the happiness and success of each employee in the workplace.”
The findings of the survey point to some solutions in solving the issue of an unhappy workforce. Employers should ensure they are pitching the role at the right level, providing employees with a slight stretch in the role, rather than looking for a perfect match. They need to be mindful of offering better opportunities for training, as well as highlighting each employee’s goals and responsibilities clearly at the outset.
The complete findings are published in a new report, Employee Engagement and Retention. For more information about the Kelly Global Workforce Index and key regional and generational findings, please visit the Kelly® Press Room or www.kellyservices.com.
