New Delhi: A vast majority of India’s workforce — primarily consisting of youngsters with a year’s experience or less — is thinking of switching jobs this year, a survey conducted by global professional networking website LinkedIn and UK-based market researcher Censuswide has shown.
While most respondents cited poor work-life balance as the reason for thinking of changing jobs, better pay topped the list of incentives that would convince them to stay with their current employer, according to the survey results.
Around 82 per cent of the working population in India is considering changing jobs, LinkedIn said in press statement Tuesday. “The job-seeker research further reveals that the Great Reshuffle in India is being led by freshers with up to 1 year of work experience (94 per cent) and Gen Z professionals (87 per cent), who are more likely to consider changing jobs in 2022,” it stated.
The survey, in which 1,111 people participated, was conducted last month (between 10 and 15 December 2021). LinkedIn’s statement included the survey’s primary findings, but did not mention details on the professional backgrounds of the respondents.
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‘Not enough money’ also a factor
The survey indicates that the percentage of people wanting to change jobs because of poor work-life balance edged out those unhappy with the remuneration they are receiving — 30 per cent and 28 per cent respectively. Twenty-three per cent people cited ‘greater career ambitions’.
Survey data showed that work-life balance was the least-favoured incentive to make employees stay, but not too far behind other factors.
When asked what would make them stay with their current employer, 42 per cent respondents said better pay, 36 per cent said more appreciation, and 34 per cent said a better work-life balance.
The survey also noted that work-life balance impacted women disproportionately.
“According to the survey, working women (37 per cent) are 1.3 times more likely to quit their current job due to poor work-life balance when compared to working men (28 per cent),” the LinkedIn statement said.
“They are also more likely (49 per cent) to say they will remain with their current employer if they get better pay, when compared to working men (39 per cent). This may be a wake up call for employers to revisit their compensation benefits and ensure more inclusivity through their offerings,” it added.
Pandemic effect
Part of the reason why so many professionals are thinking of a switch is also the confidence they have in the job market, the statement said.
Around 86 per cent professionals had high confidence in the strength of their professional network, the survey showed. However, despite this, many were still doubtful about their own work.
According to the survey, more than two-thirds (73 per cent) of the respondents said they question their work abilities more than they did before the pandemic. Moreover, 67 per cent respondents said they suffered from ‘imposter syndrome’ — constant doubting of oneself and fearing being exposed by someone.
“This self-doubt seems to be a byproduct of working in isolation for nearly two years as 33 per cent professionals say the pandemic has negatively impacted their confidence at work,” the release said.
Apart from this, not being able to work from office or meeting colleagues face to face, being given a new responsibility, and having to use more technology while working from home, were the top three stress-causing agents, the survey noted.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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