Singaporeans, most Asians confident in job-hopping

72% say they'll snag the same or better position when switching employers.

According to workforce solutions provider Kelly Services, APAC respondents had the highest confidence followed by those in the Americas (71%) and EMEA (65%) regions. Overall, in spite of the lingering uncertainty in the economy, more than two-thirds or 69% of respondents say that if they did change jobs, they would be in a good position to negotiate a similar or better position.

More than half (53 percent) of the respondents of the Kelly Global Workforce Index (KGWI) survey also believe that in order to develop their skills and advance their careers, it is more important to change employers, rather than remain with their existing employer.

"The survey reflects a changing attitude from workers, with more seeking to gain new experiences and skills with multiple employers," said Kelly Services.

"As a sign of the new sense of self-reliance and autonomy seen in today's workforce, nearly half of all workers (49 percent) say that even when they are happy in a job, they actively look for better job opportunities or evaluate the job market," it further noted.

The results also showed that almost three-quarters (70 percent) consider work experience with multiple employers to be an asset to their career growth and advancement. 

Also, the idea of a 'career-for-life' with one employer is regarded as "relevant" by one-third of respondents (31 percent). This notion of a "one-employer career" is stronger in the Americas (49 percent) than in APAC (29 percent) and EMEA (21 percent).

Not surprisingly as well, employees with professional and technical skills are less attracted to the idea of a career-for-life with one employer (28 percent) than other workers (35 percent).

The KGWI examines issues of job mobility and career progression as part of a shift to a more autonomous and empowered workforce. Nearly 170,000 people across all generations in 30 countries, including the Americas, APAC and EMEA regions, participated in the current survey.