Asia Pacific Gen Y willing to make job sacrifices

By Subatra Suppiah | Tuesday, March 03 2009

A new international survey shows that younger workers are more willing to accept a lower wage or a lesser role if their work contributes to something 'more important or meaningful'.

A new international workplace survey shows that younger workers, or generation Y aged 18 to 29, in the Asia-Pacific are more willing to make job sacrifices.

These include accepting a lower wage or a lesser role if their work contributes to something 'more important or meaningful', reports Kelly Services.

About half (51 per cent) of those surveyed worldwide are prepared to do so.

The findings are part of the Kelly Global Workforce Index, which sought the views of about 100,000 people in 34 countries covering North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific.

The survey was conducted from early November 2008 to mid-January 2009.

It reveals a widespread desire for more meaningful roles in the workplace.

Career worries
The survey also highlights emerging career worries and planned job exploration by generation X (aged 30-47), as well as a sense of disappointment and lost opportunity building among baby boomers (aged 48-65).

"Our findings demonstrate important distinctions in how people from different cultures and generations make their employment decisions," said George Corona, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Kelly Services. "One overriding trend is that people want their jobs to provide a degree of emotional fulfilment, even if it means sacrificing money and status to achieve it."

Overall, there are many who are prepared to quit their current roles and look for more engaging jobs elsewhere. The survey shows the value of work in delivering non-monetary needs such as pride and self-confidence.