ARMONK, N.Y., Feb. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study
from the IBM (NYSE: IBM) Institute for Business Value (IBV)
revealed that one in four consumers surveyed globally plan to
switch employers in 2021. Even as the economy saw the loss of
global working hours equivalent to 255 million full-time employees
in 2020,* the study shows voluntary job changes and skills
development are still top of mind in today's labor market as
employees may be seeking career changes due to disruptions caused
by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study of more than 14,000 adults globally also showed
that many of those who voluntarily made job changes in 2020
may be on the move again in 2021 for many of the same
reasons. Findings included:
- One in five employees surveyed voluntarily switched employers
in 2020. Of those surveyed who said they switched employers, more
than half were generation Z (ages 18-24) (33%) and millennials
(ages 25-39) (25%).
- Of the 28% of surveyed employees who plan to switch employers
in 2021, the need for a more flexible work schedule or location and
increased benefits and support for their well-being were cited as
top reasons why.
- 1 in 4 surveyed employees indicated they plan to switch
occupations in 2021.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has changed employees' expectations of
their employers, and leaders should take a more empathetic and
personalized approach to attracting and retaining talent,
especially for Gen Z and Millennial candidates and employees who
may be more likely to make voluntary employer or occupation
changes," said Amy Wright, managing
partner, IBM Talent & Transformation. "That can include
developing tailored learning plans and career paths for employees,
fostering inclusive and flexible cultures and removing bias in
hiring with the help of technologies like AI."
Employees want work-life balance and career advancement
opportunities
Work-life balance and career advancement
opportunities topped the list of attributes surveyed consumers said
were important for their employer to provide. More than 40% of
consumers surveyed also said the ethics and values of their
employer were important to engage them, and 36% of consumers
surveyed said they valued continuous learning opportunities.
A perception gap exists between employers and employees on
their skills
According to a 2019 IBV study on the global
skills gap, 45% of organizations surveyed shared that they can't
find the skills they need. However, the IBV study released today
showed greater confidence from workers, with 87% of employees
surveyed believing they already have the necessary skills to meet
their job/employment goals in 2021. Despite this confidence, most
employees are still planning to pursue paths to grow their skills
for the future.
- 58% of consumers surveyed said that they plan to take
continuing education courses this year, mostly online versus in
person.
- 25% percent of consumers surveyed indicated their reskilling or
upskilling goals for 2021 included enrollment in a formal degree,
certification or badging program.
- Approximately 30% of generation Z and 30% of millennial
respondents surveyed said they'll enroll in a formal degree,
certification or badging program, which were the largest
percentages compared to other generation groups surveyed.
- More than 1 in 4 generation Z respondents surveyed say they'll
pursue an apprentice opportunity, which was the largest percentage
compared to other generation groups surveyed.
IBM expands SkillsBuild, a free online learning
platform
To help individuals build skills for the future,
IBM has expanded SkillsBuild to the
United States. SkillsBuild is a no-charge and open online
learning program that is designed to empower job seekers and others
with professional workplace readiness and technical skills. Its key
differentiators include a wide portfolio of interactive courses in
languages that include English, French, German, Japanese and
Spanish, and the ability for job seekers to tap personal coaching
tools, complete portfolio-building projects, and earn credentials
to showcase their skills to potential employers.
Learners accessing the platform can conduct a self-assessment of
employment interests and aptitude, helping them identify and
connect with a learning path that fits their skill set. Learning
paths and badges cover areas such as cybersecurity, data analysis,
customer service, workplace skills like collaboration and
presentation, and job application essentials, among others. Some of
IBM's content contributors include Fortinet and Red Hat.
"The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with rapid technological
developments, is profoundly changing the workplace. At the same
time, businesses are increasingly seeking to build strong and
diverse talent pipelines," said Justina
Nixon-Saintil, IBM Vice President and Global Head of
Corporate Social Responsibility. "IBM SkillsBuild is designed to
give aspiring professionals a powerful set of resources at no
charge to help them cultivate meaningful careers that they can be
proud of."
IBV Study Methodology
To better understand consumers' plans and motivations for leaving
or staying with their employers and investing in their own
professional development, IBM surveyed more than 14,000 adults in
January 2021 across nine countries:
Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Mexico, Spain, the United
Kingdom, and the United
States. The full study is available
at: https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/report/employee-expectations-2021
*According to the International Labour Organization, in 2020,
8.8% of global working hours were lost relative to the fourth
quarter of 2019, equivalent to 255 million full-time jobs.
About the IBM Institute for Business Value
The IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) delivers trusted
business insights from our position at the intersection of
technology and business, combining expertise from industry
thinkers, leading academics, and subject matter experts with global
research and performance data. The IBV thought
leadership portfolio includes research deep dives,
benchmarking and performance comparisons, and data visualizations
that support business decision making across regions, industries
and technologies. Follow @IBMIBV on Twitter, and to receive the
latest insights by email, visit: www.ibm.com/ibv.
Nancy Ngo
IBM Media Relations
nngo@us.ibm.com
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SOURCE IBM