Majority of Filipino employees want hybrid work setup—study says

And they also want to achieve work-life balance


With all the things that happened for the past couple of years, a new study conducted by SEEK, titled “What Job Seekers Wish Employers Knew: Unlocking the Future of Recruitment” showed that majority of Filipino workers now want hybrid work setup and are looking for company that will offer better opportunities.

The study, which surveyed 97,324 respondents in the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, found that 34 percent of the talent surveyed are actively looking for a new job. In the Philippines, 40 percent of the respondents said they are not actively looking for a new job but are open to good offers including higher salary and upward career progress. Meanwhile, 33 percent of Filipino job seekers are actively searching and are motivated by finding a role with higher seniority or trying out a new profession.

This study also revealed an interesting insight about the priority of Filipino workers. While most respondents (71 percent) to the survey in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong said that they desire, above all, a stable job with a good work-life balance. However, the survey revealed that Filipino talents are slightly more interested in taking leadership positions and in building their own successful businesses one day.

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This is in line with Filipino jobseekers’ deal breakers when looking for a new role, with 28 percent citing work-life balance as a deal breaker, ranking second after financial compensation (35 percent). They also consider retirement and insurance benefits that come along with the job offer (27 percent).

When it comes to the desired working conditions, Filipinos are more interested in having a hybrid setup (46 percent), followed by fully remote (28 percent). When it comes to working time, Filipino talents are in line with global results, preferring a traditional five-day workweek.

When it comes to a better career path, the survey also reveals that those working in IT roles are the most coveted talent across Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, as they are frequently approached with job opportunities on a weekly and monthly basis.

“These last few years have been a wake-up call to many. Today, we are knee-deep in the era of ‘The Great Reconfiguration’ as employees are reconfiguring their work and personal lives, prioritizing the latter with greater demand for work-life balance and flexibility,” SEEK Asia chief executive officer Peter Bithos. “Meanwhile, employers are increasingly looking for different skills, with a continued focus on digital and technology skills. Employers that want to attract great talent with the skills that their businesses require must cater to these changing needs.”

Ideal hiring journey
This study also debunked and proved several recruitment myths and gave insight into what Filipino job seekers want in their recruitment journey.

For instance, a smooth and timely process is the number one way for an employer to stand out during recruitment, as mentioned by 77 percent of respondents. Moreover, 52 percent of respondents named “negative experience during recruitment” as the key reason they would refuse an otherwise attractive job offer.

“More companies have started opening a lot of opportunities and more Filipino jobseekers have built their confidence in seeking jobs and negotiating positions that really fit their needs,” said JobStreet Philippines country manager Philip Gioca. “Candidates will have the tendency to be more selective and this is a good challenge for hirers to improve their recruitment process.”

SEEK, is the parent company of online employment marketplacesJobStreetandJobsDB. For more information clickhere.