Asia Labor Market Briefing
Candidate Perceptions and Behaviors in Select Asian Countries: Q3-Q4/2011

Key Findings

1. Employees' business confidence continued to decline. The global average of the Business Confidence Index went down by 2.1 points to 48.0. The Asia average declined by 1.8 points to 54.5.
2. Perceived availability of job opportunities declined in Asia. The Job Opportunity Barometer declined by 0.5 points in Asia. Singapore and India witnessed the steepest decline in the perceived availability of job opportunities with a decline of 4.6 and 2.2 points, respectively. Employees in India and the Philippines continue to be most optimistic about job availability.
3. Employees in Asia and North America became more active in searching for jobs. Job search activity increased in Asia and North America by 1.4 and 1.8 points, respectively. Employees in Europe became slightly less active in looking for opportunities outside their organization with scores falling by 0.9 points.
4. Job switching salary premiums declined in Asia. While expectations of compensation premiums to switch jobs in Asia continue to be the highest, the average premium expected declined by 1.8 points to 15.2%. Employees in the Philippines and India continue to demand the highest switching premiums across the globe (25.7% and 21.8%, respectively).
5. Candidates use and are most influenced by friends and family members while looking for jobs. Other popular channels widely used and trusted by candidates in Asia are current employees of the organization, external search firms, and third-party job boards.
6. Employees in Asia score lowest on engagement levels. Both Intent to Stay and Discretionary Effort are lowest among Asian employees.
7. Employees in Asia unlikely to recommend or return to previous employers. About 60% of respondents from Asia would not recommend their previous employer as a great place to work; more than 80% of respondents from the region consider themselves unlikely to return to their past employers. The corresponding global averages are 27% and 22%.