randstad workmonitor, results wave 3: employees feel overqualified for their job.

Over 47% of employees globally feel they are overqualified for their current job, as revealed in the quarterly Randstad Workmonitor survey. In China (84%), Turkey (78%) and Greece (69%), the number of overqualified employees is especially high, while in Belgium, Luxemburg and Denmark (23-28%) there seems to be a better match between employee qualifications and job requirements. The global average of employees who feel they are under-qualified for their job is much lower at approximately 20%.



Hard to find the right talent Globally almost 60% of the respondents say their employer has difficulties in finding the right person for the job. Brazil takes the lead with 71%. Finding highly qualified people is an issue for almost half of the employers. In Greece, Italy, Spain and Denmark only a third of the employers face this problem with a lot of highly trained talent still available. Finding low skilled workers is not a big issue (27% on average), although more challenging in China (47%), Malaysia (39%) and Japan (35%).

Expected shortages

On average, 47% of the employees worldwide expect a shortage of highly qualified people within the next 3 years. These numbers run much higher in Hong Kong (67%), China & India (65%) and Malaysia (64%). Czech Republic (34%), the Netherlands and Denmark (33%) have less employees expecting a shortage of highly qualified staff. Although finding lower skilled workers seems less of an issue, still 34% of the employees globally expect to see shortages in that segment as well within the next 3 years. China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and India (all between 50-60%) expect shortages of low skilled staff as well as highly qualified people.

Career opportunities

Overall, more than half of the employees state their employer invests sufficiently in additional training and education as well as career opportunities. Exceptions are Japan (40%), Greece (39%) and Hungary (36%), where fewer employees believe their employer invests sufficiently in their development. The best career opportunities can be found in Hong Kong, India and Malaysia (73%). In Spain, Slovakia, Greece, and Hungary employees feel that the investment in career opportunities is not sufficient.

Quarterly recurring items

Mobility Index up to 107

After a small dip the Mobility Index increased to 107, indicating that compared to last quarter more employees expect to be changing jobs in the next six months. The index increased in Turkey, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil and Hong Kong. Only in Poland expected mobility declined. The number of employees actively looking for a new job has risen in China and Mexico. In New Zealand there's been a shift from not actively to actively looking for a job. Reasons to look for a new job are: better employment conditions (38%), personal desire for change (32%) and organizational circumstances (28%).

Employee confidence: slight improvement

Confidence in finding a comparable job has increased in Luxemburg and Hong Kong and declined in Poland. Confidence in finding a different job has increased in France, Sweden and India and declined in Turkey. In Italy, confidence about finding a different as well as a comparable job has increased. Significant fear of job loss has declined in several countries (the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico and Malaysia). But it has increased significantly in Hungary and Hong Kong. Moderate fear of job loss has increased in New Zealand, Turkey and Malaysia.

Job satisfaction

As in previous quarters, employees from the Nordics are the most satisfied in Europe. For Sweden there is even an increase 65% to 75%. Belgium and Malaysia showed an increase in satisfaction as well. Employees in Hungary, Spain and Greece are the least satisfied. Switzerland, the UK and Turkey showed a decline in level of satisfaction. Outside Europe, India and Mexico rank highest in satisfaction. Employees in Brazil are significantly less satisfied compared to last quarter.

Personal motivation

Italy, Luxemburg and France have the most ambitious employees in Europe. Compared with last quarter, employees in Germany, Turkey and Poland are less focused on promotion. Outside Europe, the most ambitious employees can be found in Mexico and India. Japanese employees are least focused on promotion.



Randstad and SEO Economic Research recently launched an academic report on mismatches in the US and European labor markets, titled "Into the Gap. Exploring Skills and Mismatches". Differences in outcome between Into the Gap and this quarter's Randstad Workmonitor can be explained by the fact that the latter focuses on employee perception, which may vary from statistical evidence.

The Randstad Workmonitor

The Randstad Workmonitor was launched in 2003, and now covers 32 countries around the world, encompassing Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas. The Randstad Workmonitor is published four times a year, making both local and global trends in mobility regularly visible over time.



The Mobility Index, which tracks employee confidence and captures expectations surrounding the likelihood of changing employers within a six month time frame, provides a comprehensive understanding of job market sentiments and employee trends. In addition to measuring mobility, also employee satisfaction and personal motivation, as well as a rotating set of themed questions are part of the survey.



The quantitative study is conducted via an online questionnaire among a population aged 18-65, working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid job (not self-employed). The minimal sample size is 400 interviews per country, using Survey Sampling International. Research for the second wave in 2012 was conducted from July 17 to August 15, 2012.