NEWS
Employees seek the skills to thrive in a global workplace
The Kelly Global Workforce Index and key drivers towards globalisation

Feb 2010 Kuala Lumpur | A majority of Malaysian workers believe the experience they gain in a globally oriented workplace will be important to their careers, according to the latest findings from an international workplace survey. However, many believe they are not being adequately prepared to work with varied nationalities and cultures.

The survey, by global workforce solutions leader Kelly Services, finds that the younger generations, Gen Y (aged 18-29) and Gen X (aged 30-47), are driving the trend toward globalisation. When it comes to working in a multinational environment, it is Gen X employees that reports the most direct experience within a global business experience and feel the most confident more so than their Gen Y and baby boomer (aged 48-65) colleagues.

In deciding where to work, the opportunity for exposure to international skills or a globalised workplace is becoming more desirable, especially for younger workers. Yet many employees do not receive formal support from their employers, like cultural relations, negotiations or language training, that would help them develop the expertise needed to thrive in a global setting.

The Kelly Global Workforce Index obtained the views of more than 90,000 people in 33 countries, including almost 2,000 across Malaysia.

Melissa Norman

"As business becomes more global, employees worldwide are developing a new suite of cross-cultural and language skills that will equip them to prosper in a more multinational environment," said Ms Melissa Norman, VP and Country General Manager of Kelly Services. “Exposure to the international workplace is becoming the norm as more highly skilled people develop the capacity to export their talents wherever needed around the globe. In this environment, the ability to work collobartively with multinational teams is a critical requirement that we expect to become more commonplace.” While Gen X and to some extent Baby Boomers have the bulk of experience in dealing with a globalised workplace, it is Gen Y which is shaping the new playing field.

They are much more aware of the importance of international experience and are more likely to select jobs or promotions on the basis of more global oriented work opportunities.

Rapid economic advancement in developing economies will lead many more skilled employees to seek international opportunities, and those workers will be very attractive to employers no matter where in the world they are located. It could potentially transform industries where standard practices allow employers to tap into a vast global talent pool, in such areas as engineering, science, finance and healthcare where skills are highly transferable across the globe.

“We are seeing a generation emerge that is very confident operating in a global environment. This will lead to many more transferable skills, and a business dynamic where human capital can be deployed seamlessly to almost any location on short notice. Given the significant role this will play in transacting future business and attracting new talent, we expect to see many more firms devoting resources to equip staff with the language, culture, and flexibility they need to be successful in a truly global context,” Norman concludes.

Amongst the key findings of the survey in Malaysia:

	94 percent of both Gen Y and Gen X believe it is important to their career prospects that they become more globally oriented, followed by baby boomers (92 percent)
	A total of 82 percent feel that they possess the skills to work in a more globally oriented workplace. · In deciding where to work, exposure to a global environment is considered “extremely important” by 46 percent of Gen Y, 36 percent of Gen X and 28 percent of baby boomers
	74 percent of both Gen X and baby boomers have recently experienced working closely with colleagues from a different country or culture, followed by Gen Y (58 percent)
	Only 44 percent of Gen Y receive formal cross-cultural or language training from their employer, followed by Gen X (41 percent) and baby boomers (34 percent)

About the Kelly Global Workforce Index
The Kelly Global Workforce Index is a survey revealing opinions about work and the workplace from a generational viewpoint. Results of the current findings from across Kelly’s global operations in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific will be published throughout 2009/2010 in a series of six releases.

About Kelly Services
Kelly Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: KELYA, KELYB) is a world leader in workforce management services and human resources solutions offering a comprehensive array of temporary staffing, permanent placement, outsourcing, and consulting services.

Source :Kelly Services