Irish workforce optimism increases in 2012
Issued by Mattison Public Relations on behalf of Berkley Group
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Irish workers are increasingly upbeat about the performance of the businesses they work for with 40% saying that prospects are improving - an increase from 37% six months ago, reveals research by Berkley Recruitment Group ("Berkley"), a leading global staffing firm.
Berkley's research, amongst 2,400 workers across the world, shows that Irish staff are also more optimistic than many of their counterparts across Europe. Only 27% of staff in Germany, 35% in Spain, 36% in France, 37% in the UK and 38% in Italy are confident that prospects are improving for the business they work for.
Fergal Brosnan, Managing Director at Berkley , comments: "These employees see how their businesses are doing. They know if orders are coming in, if everyone is being asked to work longer hours, if the phones are ringing , so it is great to see optimism in Ireland increasing."
"But although it is great to see the Irish workforce now more optimistic than our Brittish neighbours, sentiment is fragile. Politicians and other policy makers need to be careful of that."
Berkley points out that their research shows that almost half (48%) of Irish employees would consider emigrating to change jobs.
Fergal Brosnan continues: "That almost half of Irish employees surveyed would consider emigrating to change jobs is a pretty shocking statistic."
"The only gloss you can put on that is the figures are even higher in other EU countries - in Spain and Italy over 85% of respondents would emigrate for a career move. Whilst all workforces are more mobile that ever, it does say something about the limited choices that many employees feel they are faced with."
The research also showed that more than 68% of Irish staff think that if the Euro were to collapse their job would be at risk.
Fergal Brosnan comments: "Although sentiment has improved, staff in Ireland are realistic about the strength of the economy and how well it could withstand another major shock. Over two thirds of respondents think their jobs and income would be at risk if the Euro collapsed. The Irish economy is still far from being insulated from the Eurozone crisis."
"Encouragingly there are now signs that Irish workers are preparted to go the extra mile, with 46% saying they are now taking less days off sick for the sake of company productivity. This is higher than many of their European counterparts."
Berkley adds that fears over job security have eased during 2012, and staff in Ireland are also more enthusiastic about their chances of promotion than their European counterparts. Whilst only 23% rated their chances of promotion as better than this time last year, the figure was higher than Germany (20%), the UK (18%) and France (3%).
Fergal Brosnan adds: "It is pleasing to see that staff are more at ease in their jobs and that confidence is higher than at the start of 2012. Irish workers are amongst the more bullish about their promotion opportunities. It's good news that they are now focusing again on medium-term career goals."
ENDS
About Berkley Recruitment Group
Berkley Recruitment Group is a leading global provider of permanent and contract resources to the Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, Engineering, IT and Commercial sectors.
Berkley Recruitment Group if part of the Rethink Group (AIM: RTG) provides business transformation services through three divisions, recruitment, talent management and technology. The Group supports clients across the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and the US and has over 800 consultants working on client assignments.
Press Contacts:
Fergal Brosnan
Managing Director
Berkley Group
Tel: 021 4289 600
Nick Mattison or Gordon Carver
Mattison Public Relations
Tel: 0044 20 7645 3636
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