- A New Report from BCG, The Network, and The Stepstone Group
Based on a Survey of More Than 150,000 Respondents in 188 Countries
Reveals Shifting Workplace Priorities and Preferences
- Three-Quarters of Respondents Believe GenAI Will Create Some
Level of Disruption, and 57% Are Willing to Reskill
- Workers Report Confidence in Navigating the Changing
Labor Market
BOSTON and DÜSSELDORF, Germany, June 13,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Three-quarters of workers around
the world believe GenAI will bring some level of disruption to the
workplace. But despite uncertain times, they remain confident about
their place in the labor market: 57% of them are ready to retrain
into new roles to stay ahead in their careers, and 64% feel they
hold the upper hand when negotiating for jobs.
These are among the findings of a new report published today by
Boston Consulting Group (BCG), The Network, and The Stepstone
Group. Titled How Work Preferences Are Shifting in the Age of
GenAI, the study is based on survey data from more than 150,000
workers from 188 countries and is the second installment in the
2024 edition of the Decoding Global Talent series, the
previous editions having been published in 2014, 2018, and
2021.
The findings of the study underscore the proactive approach
workers are taking in response to the potential impacts of GenAI.
By prioritizing reskilling and development, they are not only
preparing to adapt to technological changes but also expressing
confidence in their ability to thrive in an evolving labor market.
This adaptability is key to maintaining a robust and resilient
workforce in the face of ongoing technological advances.
"We are seeing a rapid evolution and maturing of employee views
toward AI, and a crucial recognition that a commitment to
continuous reskilling will ensure long-term employability," said
Jens Baier, managing director and
senior partner at BCG and leader of the firm's work in HR
excellence.
Globally, workers are also clear about what they don't want—54%
would refuse an attractive job offer if they had a bad experience
during the interview process. The importance of the recruitment
process is underscored by the fact that a negative experience
during recruitment is the second-most-significant dealbreaker in
North America and Europe. Additionally, 40% of workers say they
won't work for companies that don't offer mental health support or
that have a perceived negative impact on society.
"AI offers a unique opportunity to transform recruitment
through innovative, technology-driven processes. Moreover, AI has
the potential to substantially enhance skill development and foster
a genuinely human-centric workplace," said Sebastian Dettmers, CEO of The Stepstone Group.
"This evolution will streamline operations, removing redundant
tasks and significantly aiding individuals in securing the ideal
job."
Interestingly, the impact of AI disruption is evident in what
global talent desires in an ideal workplace. Job security was the
most important factor for workers in East
Asia and South Asia,
particularly among those who perceived AI to have a greater impact
on their future work. Learning and development topped the list for
the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and
Latin America, highlighting a
strong desire to adapt, progress, and upskill in an evolving
landscape. The highly competitive labor markets of recent years and
the strong bargaining position of workers are reflected in
financial compensation being the top priority for North Americans
and work-life balance for Europeans.
"In a tight labor market where talent remains a critical and
scarce resource, it is important that employers attract talent from
various sources and channels," said Sacha
Knorr, co-managing director at The Network. "Reskilling
existing employees, recruiting internationally, or looking at
talent with unusual backgrounds are all solutions they should
increasingly consider."
Download the publication here.
More insights about the survey here.
Media Contacts:
BCG: Eric
Gregoire—Gregoire.Eric@bcg.com
The Network: Bojan Divčić—Bojan.Divcic@the-network.com
The Stepstone Group: Frank
Brandmaier—Frank.Brandmaier@stepstone.com
About the Survey
BCG, The Network (together with its
affiliate organizations), and The Stepstone Group conducted this
anonymous online survey from October through December 2023. All told, 150,735 people in 188
countries participated.
The survey elicited respondents' preferences at work and their
perception of GenAI and its impact. It covered topics such as
evolving work preferences and attitudes, factors that might lead
respondents to reject an attractive job offer, the extent to which
they have adopted and now use GenAI in professional and personal
contexts, perceptions of GenAI's impact on their jobs, and
willingness to reskill to remain competitive. The data gathered in
the survey—including a wide variety of information on participants'
demographic and professional backgrounds—enabled us to analyze
workers' attitudes on the basis of multiple parameters.
BCG also conducted follow-up interviews with select study
participants around the world—many of whom were interviewed before
and have been followed for several years.
About Boston Consulting Group
Boston Consulting Group
partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most
important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG
was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963.
Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational
approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering
organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and
drive positive societal impact.
Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional
expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo
and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge
management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and
digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across
the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization,
fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them
to make the world a better place.
About The Network
The Network is a global alliance of
more than 70 leading recruitment websites committed to finding the
best talent in over 150 countries. Founded in 2002, The Network has
become the global leader in online recruitment, serving more than
2,000 global corporations. The recruitment websites in The Network
attract almost 200 million unique visitors each month. For more
information, please visit www.the-network.com.
About The Stepstone Group
The Stepstone Group is a
leading global digital recruitment platform that connects companies
with the right talent and helps people find the right job. The
Stepstone Group connects more than 130 million job applications
with around 140,000 employers every year. With its integrated
platforms, The Stepstone Group simplifies the candidates job search
as well supporting recruiters with AI-powered solutions for the
entire recruitment process. In 2023, The Stepstone Group generated
revenue of around €1 billion. The Stepstone Group operates in more
than 30 countries—including Stepstone in Germany, Appcast in the US, and Totaljobs in
the UK. The company is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany and employs around 4,000 people
worldwide. For more information: www.thestepstonegroup.com/en.
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SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG)