What conditions can lead to sustained momentum in Asian
countries where growth has a tremendous impact on the health of the
global economy? A new Gallup study of employees in Singapore
suggests that keeping employees engaged in their jobs may be an
important factor.
The September 2004 survey* finds that rising optimism about
economic indicators in Singapore has been accompanied by
encouraging signs of increased engagement among the country's
workers. The proportion of Singaporean employees who are engaged in
their jobs increased from 6% to 9% between 2003 and 2004 (see
"Booming Singapore Sees Rise in Worker Engagement" in Related
Items).
Though it's hard to say whether greater optimism leads to
heightened job engagement or vice versa, the two are highly
related: Engaged employees (as determined by Gallup's 12-question
workplace Engagement Index) tend to be more optimistic than
disengaged employees, not only about their jobs but also about
other aspects of life -- such as the economy.
The Singapore Economy
The survey shows that overall, Singaporean workers are generally
upbeat about economic conditions in their country. Fifty-six
percent rate current economic conditions as excellent or good,
while 43% feel that the economy is only fair or poor. Ratings of
economic conditions in 2004 are the most positive they have been
since Gallup began measuring the perceptions of Singaporean workers
in 2001.
But those Singaporean employees who are more
engaged in their jobs are more likely than other employees to
evaluate the economy positively. Fully 79% of engaged employees
rate economic conditions as excellent or good, compared with 32% of
actively disengaged employees.
Overall, 66% of Singaporean workers believe the country's
current economic recovery is sustainable. This positive outlook
about the economy also extends to optimism about personal economic
conditions. Forty-five percent of Singaporeans think their personal
economic circumstances will improve over the next year. Only 6%
think things might get worse.
Layoffs/Downsizing
But increased optimism among Singapore's employees about general
economic conditions has not necessarily made them more sanguine
about the prevalence of layoffs and downsizing. Twenty-five percent
of respondents say they work for companies that have experienced
layoffs or downsizing, a similar proportion to last year (28%).
Seventeen percent of workers have observed discussions about
layoffs or downsizing -- that's up from 10% in 2003.
Twelve percent of Singaporean employees believe they are likely
to lose their jobs in the next year. This percentage is similar to
that found last year (13%).
Job satisfaction and the clarity of expectations play important
roles in one's sense of job security. Therefore, it is no surprise
that employees' engagement levels are related to their opinions
about their own safety from downsizing and layoffs. Only 1 in 10
engaged employees think they may lose their jobs within the year,
while the corresponding percentage of actively disengaged employees
is almost three times higher at 22%.
*This study was conducted as part of a nationwide
poll on perceptions about work life in Singapore that was conducted
in the first two weeks of September. The study was conducted among
1,010 Singaporean citizens and permanent residents between the ages
of 18 and 54 who are currently employed full or part time, using a
random location quota sample. Interviewing was conducted
between the period of Sept. 1, 2004, and Sept. 16, 2004. For
results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that
the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects
is ±3.1 percentage points. In addition to sampling
error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting
surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public
opinion polls.
