Future Workforce in Singapore Value Meaningful and Challenging Jobs

Research done by human capital firm EON Consulting & Training (EON) found that:

  1. 57% of Singapore’s polytechnic and university students, our future workforce, consider having an interesting, challenging and meaningful job with opportunities to use and develop their skills to achieve the organisation’s goals as a very important engagement driver.
  2. This is followed by the provision of fair treatment in the workplace, as well as the inculcation of a cohesive organisation culture.

SINGAPORE, 18 May 2016 – The findings are based on a survey of 400 polytechnic and university students studying in Singapore over a three-month period from October 2015 to December 2015. The objective of the survey was to help employers better understand the different value systems that come with having a multi-generational workforce and in particular, help them understand what millennial employees, our future workforce value.

Respondents gave score ratings to questions that correspond to six dimensions of employee engagement, such as, job characteristics, organisational support and leadership, supervisory support, rewards and recognition, fair treatment in the workplace, as well as belief in the organisation and its culture.

“Over the next few months, Singapore will welcome a new group of workers – polytechnic graduates and university graduates into the workforce. It is important that employers understand that these workers are looking to play an active role in achieving the organisation’s goals,” said Jessica Aow, HR Business Consultant of EON Consulting & Training.

Gearing up for the Future Workforce

Calling the need to gear up for the future workforce “crucial”, she said employers can take these 3 steps to better engage the future workforce – 75% of our workforce will consist of Millennials in the next decade. Older workers aged 55 years and above make up 22.3% of our resident workforce in 2015.

First, employers must re-design their jobs, provide challenging and interesting jobs with ample opportunities for employees to use and develop their skills.

Second, employers should change their processes, involve employees in day-to-day decisions and give employees autonomy to decide how to do their work.

“4 in 10 future employees value fairness in the workplace highly, followed closely by a cohesive and positive organisation culture,” said Jessica.

Third, the multigenerational workforce in Singapore highlights the need to create more career pathways and provide additional professional development opportunities to account for the different values and career aspirations of employees.

Future Workforce in Singapore Value Meaningful and Challenging Jobs

“Our past research revealed that the most important dimensions in engaging existing employees in their work and organisation differ from future employees. The existing workforce considers supervisory support and rewards and recognition as more important than fairness in the workplace and a cohesive corporate culture,” said Jonathan, HR Business Consultant.

Additionally, Jonathan also shared that their employee engagement survey 2015 findings showed that more than 1 in 4 employees in the current workforce, including Millennials, perceive there is a lack of fairness in the workplace.

“Fairness whether real or perceived, leads to trust which is an essential condition to engage and retain Millennials,” said Jonathan.

For more information, please contact:
Name: Jonathan Chang, Consultant
Email: [email protected]
Office Number: 6220 4008