Kelly Global Workforce Index Reveals United States Employees Desire Meaningful Work

Despite the ever-changing conditions of the global economy, many employees are willing to sacrifice both pay and prestige in order to attain more meaningful positions, as they hope to use their talents and skill sets in a constructive manner — by positively impacting the world and those who live within it.

Recently, the Kelly Global Workforce Index, a survey created by Kelly Services, Inc., a leader in providing workforce solutions, revealed that 43 percent of all United States survey respondents were prepared to forego income or status if they were offered positions that allowed them to significantly help or influence other people.

The survey obtained the viewpoints of nearly 14,000 people across the United States, including workers from the Baby

Boomer generation, as well as Generations X and Y. Key findings of the survey included:

Forty-seven percent of Generation Y workers (aged 18 to 29) were prepared to earn lower salaries and to sacrifice their current job titles if they were assured of acquiring more meaningful work.

Forty-two percent of Generation Y workers were planning on looking for new jobs either within or outside of their current organizations during the upcoming year.

In the meantime, 26 percent of Generation X workers (aged 30 to 47) would not choose the same field of work again, if they had an opportunity to re-do their career paths.

Forty-one percent of Baby Boomer workers (aged 48 to 65) believed their career goals were not being advanced within their current positions.

Finally, only 40 percent of all United States survey respondents were anticipating beginning their job hunts during the coming months — the lowest percentage of all country survey averages. Overall, nearly 100,000 people in 34 countries were surveyed.

Employees aspire to fulfill psychological needs and career goals

So, how do you remain motivated to perform to the best of your abilities on a daily basis? What drives you to succeed within your current organizations? What exactly do you need, above all else?

In short, each of these questions can be answered by two words — meaningful positions. Across the United States, a majority of survey respondents want to acquire meaningful roles within their workplaces. But, why do respondents desire meaningful positions? What leads some individuals to sacrifice their current salaries and job titles to attain such “meaningful” work?

Focused on a “bigger picture” — Employees influence a greater cause

First, employees have vital psychological needs that they hope to fulfill throughout their working and personal lives. By working for organizations that positively impact the lives of other people, many employees feel they are able to not only help themselves, but other people as well. Employees receive emotional fulfillment as they use their talents, time, and skill sets to influence a greater cause.

Such employees do not work only for monetary assets; rather, they have a “bigger picture” in mind as they work on a daily basis. By working within a field they are passionate about, in a capacity in which other people may benefit from, some employees are able to accomplish their career goals and help their fellow human beings in the meantime.

Gratifying, long-term careers are still available

Second, many employees are also optimistic that they will be able to receive positions that may either fulfill their career aspirations or lead them to obtain further work opportunities as they continue to pursue their dream jobs. A majority of professionals had career goals when they were younger. Some actually found their “dream jobs” during the early stages of their careers, while others eventually gave up on their dreams and settled for high monetary rewards, with little career satisfaction.

No matter what their circumstances currently are, nationwide employees can still obtain gratifying, long-term careers, even in the midst of the global economic recession. While using their education, skill sets, and talents in a positive manner, employees will have opportunities to fulfill both their career goals and psychological needs at the same time. Not only will employees be satisfied with their current positions, but they may also change the lives of other people, in all four corners of the world.

Viewpoints on work vary across generations

In the meantime, although many workers tend to agree that meaningful positions will help them fulfill their psychological needs and career goals, they are not all satisfied with the current paths of their careers.

According to survey results, older workers, mainly within Generation X and the Baby Boomer generation, are unsure of their current career choices, as they reflect on their pasts and prepare for their futures. While experienced employees are working with regrets, less-experienced workers from Generation Y are more positive about their current situations.

Many young employees are pleased to even have work opportunities in the midst of the global recession. Such workers are idealists – they know that they may not currently have their “dream jobs”, but they are still gaining valuable work experience, which will help them obtain their ideal positions in the future. Although younger employees are thankful for the opportunities they presently have, they are still cautiously looking for other opportunities, either within or outside of their current organizations and fields.

Maintain the virtue of patience

Across various generations, employees view their present work situations in different manners. Older workers have higher expectations for career advancements than younger workers, due to their level of experience. While all employees should strive to acquire their most ideal positions within fields they are interested in, they should also maintain a high level of patience, especially as the economy begins to improve and organizations hire more employees.

Employees should continue to desire, maintain, and retain meaningful positions that positively impact current and future generations of people. By applying the virtue of patience in their everyday work situations, employees will likely have future opportunities to not only receive meaningful work, but also use their talents in a positive manner throughout the duration of their careers.

Leave a lasting impression

Without a doubt, highly-satisfied top talent will not only continue to change the world in which they live, but they will also motivate others to do the same. As employees’ psychological needs and career goals are met, they will be able to perform to the best of their abilities. In doing so, they will not only influence their fellow colleagues, but they will also create a lasting impression that will leave an indelible imprint on the lives of other people.

Kelly Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: KELYA, KELYB) is a leader in providing workforce solutions.  Kelly offers a comprehensive array of outsourcing and consulting services as well as world-class staffing on a temporary, temporary-to-hire and direct hire basis.  Serving clients around the globe, Kelly provides employment to 480,000 employees annually.  Revenue in 2009 was $4.3 billion.  For more information, please visit www.kellyservices.com