Worker confidence levels reach all time high across the globe

Yet UK workers amongst the least confident in Europe

Despite a growing economy and the positive impact of the Olympic win, British workers remain amongst the least confident in Europe, according to Right Management’s global Career Confidence Index(tm).

Workers in Norway, Japan, and Denmark are the most confident when it comes to job security. In Norway, only 3.4 per cent of workers say there is a possibility they could lose their job in the coming year, while only five per cent of Japanese and Danish workers say the same.

The world’s most pessimistic workers are located in Germany, where nine out of ten workers say it would be difficult to find another job.

Tony Martin, general manager, RightCoutts, part of Right Management comments, This marks the fourth survey in a row in which a majority of companies around the world reported an overall increase in worker confidence levels, indicating a continuing upward trend in worker optimism.

Although the UK results reflect an overall increase in confidence (up 1.9 points from November 2005 to 52.2*), one in five (21 per cent) British employees still believe that there is a possibility that they will be laid off in the next year. In addition, almost three quarters (71 per cent) believe that if they were laid off, they would find it difficult to find employment of a similar grade on similar pay.

Tony Martin, adds, It is pleasing to see that career confidence in the UK is increasing. However, it is also clear that British business employers have some way to go if their workers are to be as confident in their employment as their European counterparts.

Employers must ensure that they communicate openly and honestly with their employees, especially when it comes to crucial issues such as job security. Employees who are worried about their future are likely to be less focused and engaged, which ultimately is bad for business.

Right Management’s Career Confidence Index(tm) is a study of over 9,000 full time workers in 18 countries across Europe and the world. Published twice-yearly, the survey asks employees whether they are likely to be laid off from their job over the next 12 months and how easy or difficult it would be to find a similar position with the same pay. Their confidence rating (out of a perfect score of 100) is then calculated from both responses.

From most confident to least confident, the results by country were:

1. Norway
2. Japan
3. Denmark
4. Hong Kong
5. Sweden
6. Spain
7. Australia
8. Canada
9. Korea
10. Netherlands
11. Ireland
12. U.K.
13. Belgium
14. United States
15. France
16. Switzerland
17. Italy
18. Germany

*The Career Confidence Index is based on two questions posed to full-time workers in 18 countries: What is the possibility of you, yourself, being laid off from your job during the next year? How easy or difficult do you think it would be for the average person who was laid off from his or her job to find a similar job at the same pay?

The actual Global Career Confidence Index incorporates both sets of responses into a single number. Out of a perfect confidence score of 100, the global Career Confidence Index in May was 57.0, up from the November 2005 index of 54.6. The first global index was calculated in March 2003 at 50.9. In addition to the global index, Right also calculates an index for three regions and one for each of the 18 countries surveyed.