84% Indians optimistic over career development in next 12 months: Michael Page survey

MUMBAI: Nearly 84% of workers in India are increasingly optimistic they will get the chance to develop and upgrade relevant career skills in the next 12 months, according to the findings from a Job Confidence Index Q3 by executive search firm Michael Page. This was an improvement of 3% from the previous quarter.

The survey drew a comparison between responses of 580 employees in India and 4,200 employees across the Asia Pacific. In addition, 59% of respondents in India were found to be “satisfied to very satisfied”’ in their jobs compared with 53% of their Asia Pacific compeers. Confidence in the Indian economy is also high, with the index indicating that (53%) employees in India rated their current national economy as “good to excellent”, notably higher than in Asia Pacific (33%).

The survey also showed employees in India were more optimistic about compensation levels in the next 12 months (71% in Q2 to 73% in Q3), career promotion (67% in Q2 to 68% in Q3) as well as work-life balance (from 51% in Q2 to 53% in Q3). When it came to job hunting in India, strong interest to develop new skills (43% in Q2 to 47% in Q3) was the key driver ranking ahead of salary (38% in Q2 to 41% in Q3) and work-life balance (38% in Q2 to 36% in Q3). In a city by city comparison, job satisfaction levels of employees in Delhi declined quarter-on-quarter. Delhi fell from 62% in Q2 to 50% in Q3 but otherwise rose in other major cities Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Mumbai rose from 51% in Q2 to 59% in Q3, Bangalore from 68% in Q2 to 75% in Q3 and Chennai from 58% in Q2 to 78% in Q3.

“Workplace sentiment and confidence rank very high in India right now. A majority of job seekers foresee progression in their career,” said Nicolas Dumoulin, managing director, Michael Page India.