The pandemic uprooted changed the way we worked, communicated and lived. Amid ensuing lockdowns and social distancing measures, work shifted home. Many had to immediately get accustomed to working remotely, regardless of whether they wished to or not.
Now that the world is slowly coming to grips with the pandemic and its ensuing variants, employees are being asked to return to office. But after tasting the benefits that come from work-from-home, many now desire a completely remote or a hybrid work model where they are only required two to three days at office.
The situation in East Asia covering countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mongolia is not different. Gallup Analytics in its recently released report State of the Global Workplace 2022 report, explores how an employee’s work life is going; their daily emotions when at work; and their views around ESG (environment, social and governance) and the job market in their country.
Employee engagement and life evaluation
In terms of employee engagement, 17% in the region expressed they had opportunities at work to learn and grow in 2021. Although the percentage is lower than the global average, it has increased by 3% from 2020.
Exhibit 1: Percentage of employees who feel they had opportunities at work to learn and grow
Meanwhile, generally in terms of their life, how they personally feel, whether they are thriving or not, 34% of employees from East Asia feel they are thriving, which is a positive sign considering that it’s a 5% increase from the last year; and a 1% increase from the global average of 33%.
Exhibit 2: Percentage of employees who think they are thriving
Daily negative emotions
There are now more employees who worry and are stressed daily in the region. More than 3 out of 10 (37%) employees worry daily; while more than half (55%) are stressed most part of the day. There are 11% more people going through stress every day in the region as compared with the global average of 44%.
Exhibit 3: Percentage of employees who are going through stress most part of their day
Meanwhile, a positive sign is the decrease in percentage of employees in the region, who go through daily emotions of anger and sadness. Employees who go through emotions of anger and sadness in the region has reduced to 17% and 12% respectively, as compared with the global average of 21% and 23%.
Views on ESG
Eight out of 10 employees (81%) are satisfied with the efforts to preserve the environment in the region.
Exhibit 4: Percentage of employees who are satisfied with the efforts to preserve the environment
But now there are more employees (66%) than in 2020, who state that corruption has become widespread among businesses in the region.
Exhibit 5: Percentage of employees who agree that corruption has become widespread within businesses
Job market
There is an increase of 11% in employees who state that now is a good time in the region to find a job. Although the regional percentage of 27% is lesser than the global average of 45%, the job climate looks positive to grow.
Exhibit 6: Percentage of employees who say that now is a good time to find a job
The East Asia region has been one of the hardest hit regions in the world by the pandemic. Amid recent lockdowns in, the economy and trade have been impacted. But as China reopens its economy, things may brighten up with better days for employees and the job climate in the region.
