THIRTY-FIVE per cent of Australian workers said the main reason they seek contract roles is to broaden the scope of their current career through exposure to different industries
THIRTY-FIVE per cent of Australian workers said the main reason they seek contract roles is to broaden the scope of their current career through exposure to different industries. Other reasons for taking contract work included:
Filling time between permanent jobs 23%
Trying different roles 23%
More flexibility 19%
On a global scale, increased flexibility was the second most popular reason for taking contract work (26 per cent), followed by a new career direction (22 per cent).
Source: Robert Walters
No chance for Aussies after 50
SEVENTY-THREE per cent of Australians believe that finding new employment by the age of 50 will be virtually impossible. This figure increased to 82 per cent for workers aged between 41 and 55. The survey of more than 2,000 Australian workers also found that 51 per cent of baby boomers thought it was more difficult to get a job after the age of 45.
Source: Linkme.com.au
Aussie CVs likely liars
UP TO 70 per cent of job applicants exaggerate their skills and experience when applying for jobs, according to a survey of 5,098 managers across 17 countries. On average, 56 per cent of managers worldwide thought CVs couldn’t be trusted. However, in Luxembourg job applicants were viewed much more favourably, with just 26 per cent of managers suspicious of what applicants put in their CVs.
Source: Robert Half
Employment on the rise
ALMOST 50 per cent of Australian employers expect to hire during the July-September 2007 quarter. A survey of 7,788 employers revealed that only 5 per cent expect to reduce their workforce. Confidence levels within the professional services were more positive, with 56 per cent of firms intending to increase permanent employment levels.
Source: Hudson
Workers show little faith in bosses
A MASSIVE 58 per cent of Australians believe their boss is completely ineffective on the job, according to a survey of 1,987 people. Males have less confidence in their boss’ ability to perform as 44 per cent said their boss is really no good at their job, while only 40 per cent of females believed their employer could improve drastically. Results also showed 55 per cent of employees in government departments were less satisfied with their boss’performance, while sales and marketing professionals followed closely on their lack of confidence in their boss’ abilities, as 50 per cent said they have room to improve.
Source: Talent2
Call centre workers satisfied
TEN PER CENT of employees working in call centres are more satisfied in their jobs, according to a survey of 718 workers across 18 call centres. However, the proportion of employees who intend to leave the industry with their next job increased from 33 per cent in 2006 to 41 per cent in 2007.
Source: Kelly Services
Workers a key defence against money laundering
NINETY-SEVEN per cent of banks depend on staff vigilance as their first line of defence when it comes to anti-money laundering. A survey, which estimated that $500 billion to $1 trillion is laundered globally each year, also found that 71 per cent of banks report that senior managers, including boards of directors, took an active interest in anti-money laundering compliance.
Source: KPMG
Employers stingy with pay
FIFTY-FIVE per cent of professional workers received a salary increase in the past year. A survey of more than 350 professionals also found that 40 per cent were forced to request a pay rise themselves. Young professionals aged between 26 and 34 years received the highest salary increases, while the survey also found that employers were increasingly looking to promote from within, with about one in four professionals receiving a promotion in the past 12 months.
Source: Chandler Macleod
SMEs get serious on culture
SMALL- TO medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) spend just 10 per cent of their time developing a workplace culture, according to a global survey of 357 SMEs from 39 countries. The survey also found that 70 per cent of businesses have identified culture as the most important factor in recruiting and retaining key staff. Furthermore, almost three quarters of SMEs said their top two challenges were recruiting staff that fit in with the company culture (74 per cent) and maintaining the culture as the business grows (73 per cent).
Source: Shirlaws
Who’s responsible for computer security?
SIXTY-SIX per cent of workers would blame themselves if their personal bank account was broken into as a result of a security breach on their computer. However, the global survey of 1,058 people found that 55 per cent of mobile workers have total control over their laptop, compared to 34 per cent of desktop users. Meanwhile, Australian laptop users are more likely to download music (32 per cent) than desktop users (23 per cent).
Source: Queen’s University, Belfast
