Social media is transforming the way people find work and engage in work, according to workforce solutions leader Kelly Services (NASDAQ: KELYA, KELYB).
According to the Kelly Global Workforce Index (KGWI), an annual survey conducted by Kelly, employees are now widely using social media to network and identify job opportunities.
The survey canvassed the views of approximately 25,000 people across the Asia Pacific region.
According to the survey results, more than half of all respondents, or 56 percent, say they were contacted through social media about an employment opportunity in the prior year, while a quarter of respondents said they secured a job through social media in the same period.
Within the Asia Pacific region, Indonesia and Thailand stand out as something of social media hotspots, with 38 percent of respondents securing a job through social media, followed by China (35 percent), Malaysia (28 percent), India (25 percent), Singapore (22 percent), Hong Kong (19 percent), New Zealand (17 percent), and Australia (14 percent).
Wanna Assavakarint, Kelly Thailand’s Managing Director said the spread of social media in the community is now mirrored in the workplace where employees are discussing their work, their employers and canvassing job openings and career choices.
“Employees are more social and more flexible in the way they engage with trusted friends and work colleagues on social media, and increasingly they expect to have access to technology in the workplace to enable that.”
The phenomenon is not confined to younger generations. While more Gen Y (29 percent) secured a job in the past year through social media, 24 percent of Gen X and 15 percent of baby boomers did so.
Results of the survey in the Asia Pacific region also show:
- 56 percent say that they are now more inclined to search for jobs on social media than through traditional methods, including newspaper advertisements, online job boards or recruitment companies, up from 47 percent in the previous annual survey.`
- 51 percent say that they use their social media networks when making career or employment decisions.
According to the Kelly Global Workforce Index (KGWI), an annual survey conducted by Kelly, employees are now widely using social media to network and identify job opportunities.
The survey canvassed the views of approximately 25,000 people across the Asia Pacific region.
According to the survey results, more than half of all respondents, or 56 percent, say they were contacted through social media about an employment opportunity in the prior year, while a quarter of respondents said they secured a job through social media in the same period.
Within the Asia Pacific region, Indonesia and Thailand stand out as something of social media hotspots, with 38 percent of respondents securing a job through social media, followed by China (35 percent), Malaysia (28 percent), India (25 percent), Singapore (22 percent), Hong Kong (19 percent), New Zealand (17 percent), and Australia (14 percent).
Wanna Assavakarint, Kelly Thailand’s Managing Director said the spread of social media in the community is now mirrored in the workplace where employees are discussing their work, their employers and canvassing job openings and career choices.
“Employees are more social and more flexible in the way they engage with trusted friends and work colleagues on social media, and increasingly they expect to have access to technology in the workplace to enable that.”
The phenomenon is not confined to younger generations. While more Gen Y (29 percent) secured a job in the past year through social media, 24 percent of Gen X and 15 percent of baby boomers did so.
Results of the survey in the Asia Pacific region also show:
- 56 percent say that they are now more inclined to search for jobs on social media than through traditional methods, including newspaper advertisements, online job boards or recruitment companies, up from 47 percent in the previous annual survey.`
- 51 percent say that they use their social media networks when making career or employment decisions.
In response to a related question, 52 percent say the use of personal devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets in the workplace is either “important” or “very important”.
Also, 51 percent say that the ability to use their employer-provided device for both work and personal use is “highly influential” or “very influential” in deciding where they work.
Wanna said that the extension of social media into the workplace poses challenges for many employers, not least in regard to acceptable usage and content.
“Social media is quietly revolutionising recruitment because it can open up the whole process to an enormous pool of candidates.
“Social media also impacts retention because many employees don’t draw a distinction between their work and personal life and suddenly they have the freedom to share their working lives with a vast audience.”
Complete findings are published in a new report, Social Media and Technology (www.kellyocg.com/Knowledge/Kelly_Global_Workforce_Index/Social_Media_and_Technology). For more information about the Kelly Global Workforce Index and key regional and generational findings, please visit the Kelly® Press Room or www.kellyservices.com.
Also, 51 percent say that the ability to use their employer-provided device for both work and personal use is “highly influential” or “very influential” in deciding where they work.
Wanna said that the extension of social media into the workplace poses challenges for many employers, not least in regard to acceptable usage and content.
“Social media is quietly revolutionising recruitment because it can open up the whole process to an enormous pool of candidates.
“Social media also impacts retention because many employees don’t draw a distinction between their work and personal life and suddenly they have the freedom to share their working lives with a vast audience.”
Complete findings are published in a new report, Social Media and Technology (www.kellyocg.com/Knowledge/Kelly_Global_Workforce_Index/Social_Media_and_Technology). For more information about the Kelly Global Workforce Index and key regional and generational findings, please visit the Kelly® Press Room or www.kellyservices.com.
The Kelly Global Workforce Index (KGWI) is an annual global survey revealing opinions about work and the workplace. Approximately 122,000 people across the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions responded to the survey. This survey was conducted online by RDA Group on behalf of Kelly Services.
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