KUALA LUMPUR: Ninety-eight per cent of respondents in Malaysia have expressed that having a sense of purpose in their work is important to them.

However, only 27 per cent feel very satisfied in their current roles of meaning at work, according to a survey by Job_that_makesense Asia and global recruitment agency Manpower.

Interestingly, only 79 per cent of Malaysian respondents believe that any job can contribute to the betterment of society and the planet, while 55 per cent of them are contemplating a career change to actively pursue this purpose. 

High levels of satisfaction are reported by 93 per cent of those who have already made the transition.

When considering a new job, Malaysian participants prioritise salary and job stability above all else, with 45 per cent citing this as the primary determining factor. 

The next most important are work-life balance (27 per cent) and opportunities for career growth and personal development (27 per cent).

For job seekers, a company's reputation, particularly in social responsibility, is crucial. 

In fact, 90 per cent of Malaysian respondents indicate that a company's reputation in these areas significantly contributes to their decision to pursue employment with them. 

This is much higher than Southeast Asia's average of 77 per cent, said the report.

ManpowerGroup country manager for Malaysia Sanjoy Ghose, said this has wide-ranging transformative potential and shows that employees want meaning at work not only to enhance their own lives and their families lives, but also to contribute to the betterment of society as a whole. 

"It is unfortunate that only 27 per cent of Malaysian respondents are very satisfied with the level of meaning in their current role.

"I view this as an opportunity. Here, at ManpowerGroup Malaysia, we offer an in-house training programme for our client employees that provides trainees with a better understanding of environmental, social and governance and coaches them on how they can contribute more effectively to corporate initiatives," he said.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2024/05/1046002/survey-reveals-true-purpose-work-among-malaysians