The true purpose of work revealed: Only 32% of Filipinos feel “very satisfied” with the level of purpose in their current role

VillageConnect | The true purpose of work revealed: Only 32% of Filipinos feel “very satisfied” with the level of purpose in their current role | Philippines (3 May 2024) – Filipinos say that meaning at work is important to them and more than  half (52%) of them are planning to take action to achieve it. Released today by job platform  Jobs_that_makesense Asia, and global recruitment agency Manpower, the study polled largely  working adults as well as a smaller group of tertiary students (31%) poised to enter the workforce. 

The report, titled: “The Quest for Meaning at Work”, is the very first Southeast Asia-focused  research survey on the pursuit of meaning at work. The report explores the responses of 2,023 participants from six key Southeast Asian countries and aims to define what meaningful work  means to today’s workforce. 418 in the Philippines participated in the survey. 

When looking for a new job, almost half (42%) of the Philippines respondents have identified  salary and job stability as their top priorities. And 29% of the respondents said that maintaining a  positive work-life balance is becoming increasingly important for professional fulfilment.  Significantly, the pursuit of a high salary is not driven by the quest for material wealth but rather  by the aim to provide comfort and security for one’s family. 

The report also shows only 32% of Philippines respondents are “very satisfied” with the level of  purpose in their current role, demonstrating a significant opportunity for organizations who want  to set themselves apart in the tight talent market. 

PHILIPPINES FINDINGS 

• 100% of Philippines respondents surveyed indicated that having meaning at work was  important to them. 32% of Philippines respondents indicated they currently feel “very  satisfied” with their current level of meaning at work. 

• While the majority (86%) of Philippines respondents believe that any job can contribute to  the betterment of society and the planet, 52% of them are contemplating a career change to actively pursue this purpose. 72% of those who have already made the transition report  high levels of satisfaction. 

• When considering a new job, Philippines participants prioritize salary and job stability  above all else, almost half (42%) citing this as the primary determining factor. Following  closely behind are work-life balance (29%) and opportunities for career advancement and  personal growth (29%). 

• The significance of a company’s reputation, particularly in social responsibility, has  become a critical factor for job seekers. In fact, 90% of Philippines respondents indicate  that a company’s reputation in these areas significantly contributes to their decision to  pursue employment with them. This surpasses the SEA’s average of 77%. 

SOUTHEAST ASIA (SEA) FINDINGS: 

• 98% of participants surveyed from six key SEA countries indicated that having meaning  at work was important to them. Only one in five (21%) of SEA respondents indicated they  currently feel “very satisfied” with their current level of meaning at work. 

• More than half of SEA respondents expect their companies to take a leading role in  promoting sustainability initiatives. They also advocate for the creation of more positions  dedicated to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) responsibilities and the  provision of learning programs for employees that focus on societal impact and  sustainability. 

• While the majority (86%) of SEA respondents believe that any job can contribute to the  betterment of society and the planet, 53% of them are contemplating a career change to  actively pursue this purpose. Impressively, 84% of those who have already made the  transition report high levels of satisfaction. 

• The significance of a company’s reputation, particularly in social responsibility, has  become a critical factor for job seekers. In fact, 77% of SEA respondents indicate that a  company’s reputation in these areas significantly contributes to their decision to pursue  employment with them. 

• Respondents expect their companies and employers to balance improvements in  workplace conditions with a commitment to broader societal well-being. More than seven  out of ten respondents agreed enhancing working conditions with flexible hours,  comprehensive health insurance and equal pay (74%), and advocacy for Diversity, Equity,  and Inclusion (DEI) and other social causes (72%) are actions organizations could  implement to enhance their meaning at work.

Jobs_that_makesense Asia CEO, Ms Léa Klein said, over the past three years, we’ve  witnessed a significant shift in this area. 

“We are seeing a distinct shift towards integrating sustainable practices into various job roles,  which is a positive development.” 

“To meet our region’s sustainability targets by 2030, we must accelerate the momentum we are  seeing in this space. The workforce is increasingly committed to sustainability and DEIB practices,  necessitating the expansion of sustainability-driven roles and upskilling programs. By  mainstreaming sustainability across all levels of companies, these positions will become the new  norm, ensuring the success of the entire region,” Ms Klein said. 

ManpowerGroup’s Regional President of Asia Pacific and Middle East, Mr Francois  Lancon, said this research is closely aligned to ManpowerGroup’s vision that meaningful and  sustainable employment has the power to change the world.  

“It is encouraging to see the findings of this report align to our own core belief that meaningful  work is a key driver of employee happiness, health and productivity,” Mr Lancon said.  

“Today, as the acceleration of automation, a greater focus on ESG, and the emergence of  generative AI reshapes industries and economies, organizations have more ability than ever to  create opportunities for people to engage in purposeful and fulfilling work.”  

“While Manpower is committed to identifying and building talent with the right skills to succeed in  these new roles, business leaders must have the courage to create opportunities that deliver the  type of meaning today’s workforce craves,” Mr Lancon said.  

Mr. Rommel Roque, President and CEO of Prime Manpower, an authorized franchise  partner of Manpower, said “What resonates most is that 100% of those surveyed in the country  voiced that Meaning of Work was important. This isn’t surprising as we also consider the relatively  young average age of the country at 24 years old with a high English language ability embedded  in its culture.” 

“This sentiment may have been amplified further during the pandemic years where more  consciousness to contribute for the betterment of the world became a real and reachable  aspiration.”  

“Part of Manpower (Philippines)’ goals is to harness the power of these individuals and channel  them towards work opportunities that will provide this kind of self-fulfillment. Providing student  internship programs in-house and through our client networks prepares the young workforce with  the new skills demand of the world. Professional Academy programs elevating current skills or  learning new ones especially in the Sustainability industries create new pathways for both young and older personnel to meet the change ushered in by ESG and the progress in AI. I believe that  these types of initiatives would be worth serious consideration by employers of today,” said Mr.  Roque. 

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To view complete results for the Jobs_that_makesense Asia – Manpower’s The Quest for  Meaning at Work Survey, visit: https://manpower.com.ph/insights/meaning_at_work_report_asia_overview 

ABOUT THE SURVEY  

The Jobs_that_makesense Asia – Manpower’s The Quest for Meaning at Work Survey (Southeast Asia) marks the inaugural research endeavor delving into the sentiments of professionals from Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. Its aim is to construct a regionally-focused definition of the pursuit of meaning in individuals’ professional journeys, highlighting their personal and collective motivations to achieve purpose driven careers. 

ABOUT THE METHODOLOGY  

The survey was conducted across six countries (Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia,  Vietnam, and Thailand), offering participants the choice to respond in English, Thai, or  Vietnamese. A total of 2,023 individuals took part in the survey, which was administered in March  2024. Respondents represented diverse sectors and demographics, spanning from small to large  organizations, encompassing both nonprofit and corporate sectors. The majority of participants  hailed from the for-profit industry. 

ABOUT JOBS_THAT_MAKESENSE ASIA 

Jobs_that_makesense Asia serves as the Southeast Asia arm of Jobs_that_makesense, a  platform committed to nurturing careers that drive societal and environmental progress. Since its  inception in 2020, Jobs_that_makesense has operated a job board facilitating access to  opportunities within the green and social sectors. It also documents the local sector landscape  and lists curriculum programs, empowering professionals to embark on purposeful careers. Over  the past three years, Jobs_that_makesense has attracted over 2 million visitors annually, enabling  them to explore diverse opportunities. Additionally, it has assisted more than 7,000 green and  socially driven companies in connecting with talented individuals. For more information about  Jobs_that_Makesense, visit www.jobsthatmakesense.asia 

ABOUT MANPOWER 

Manpower®, part of the ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN) family of companies, is a global leader  in contingent staffing and permanent resourcing, providing companies with strategic and  operational flexibility and creating talent at scale. Our talent agents and specialized recruiters  leverage data-driven insights to assess, guide and place people into meaningful, sustainable  employment, and our PowerSuite® tech platform enables assessment and matching to predict  performance potential. Our Manpower MyPath® skilling program provides rapid skills  development at scale with on-the-job training, market-based certifications, and coaching for roles  in growth sectors. In this constantly shifting world, our flexible workforce solutions provide  companies with the business agility needed to succeed. For more information about Manpower, 

visit www.manpower.com 

ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP 

ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps  organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and  managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of  thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful,  sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our  expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 70 countries and territories and has done so  for 75 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity – as a best place to work for  Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2024 ManpowerGroup was named one of the  World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 15th time – all confirming our position as the brand of  choice for in-demand talent. For more information, visit www.manpowergroup.com