The results of the fourth edition of the global EY – Work Reimagined Survey – indicate that both employees and employers are now solely focusing on aspects related to economic difficulties, ignoring pandemic-related issues. Consequently, a sense of stability still plays a critical role, although 34% of individuals are willing to change jobs within the next 12 months, with their primary motivation being the level of remuneration. Employees also remain more optimistic than companies. In the energy sector, as many as 68% of companies anticipate increased pressure on financial results, but only 43% of employees share this view – a difference of 24 percentage points. The future belongs to artificial intelligence. As much as 84% of companies are already using or plan to start using tools based on generative AI in the future year. Employees do not have significant objections, as almost half (48%) believe this will increase the flexibility of their tasks.
The results of the global EY – Work Reimagined Survey – clearly indicate that negative factors related to the pandemic have been fully replaced by strictly economic aspects. As a result, employees appreciate sense of stability even more. In 2023, 34% of individuals plan to change jobs within the next 12 months – a decrease of 9 percentage points within the year. The most inclined to make such a decision are employees in the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors (42%) and real estate (41%), and the least are in the energy sector (29%) and public administration (28%). Companies are aware of this – 57% of representatives of the surveyed organizations agreed that economic weakening reduces the desire to change jobs. 47% of employees share this view.
The economic situation in Poland strongly influences the local labor market, and persistent inflation causes constant wage pressure on employers. However, low unemployment rates, deepened by unfavorable demographic trends, and the number of job offers still hovering at a high level make the employees look at the possibility of finding new employment with greater optimism. Meanwhile, employers in many sectors struggle with labor shortages – says Artur Miernik, EY Poland Partner and Leader of the Workforce Advisory Practice within People Advisory Services.
Global economic challenges, such as combating inflation, make the business feel increasing pressure to achieve good results. The survey results show that 61% of surveyed companies feel this phenomenon. Interestingly, only 47% of employees share this view. The difference of 14 percentage points indicates that employees assess the condition of their companies with much more optimism.
This is particularly visible in the energy sector, where the difference between the evaluations of organizations and employees amounts to as much as 24 points (68% confirmations among companies and 43% among employees). Similar results were noted in the automotive sector and public administration – the differences were 21 and 20 percent points, respectively. The most convergent approach among businesses and their employees was noticed in the advanced manufacturing sector (9 percent points) and technology, media, and telecommunications – TMT (8 percent points).
AI – everyone is all for it
The future of the job market will be closely correlated with the development and implementation of tools based on generative artificial intelligence. EY – Work Reimagined Survey – results indicate that already 49% of employees use or will start using such solutions in the next 12 months. The highest percentage (73%) applies to the TMT sector, and the lowest (31%) – to public administration representatives. For organizations, a similar declaration is made by 84% of companies. The two ends of the sector scale remained unchanged – 91% for TMT, and 62% – for public budgets.
Both employers and employees predict that artificial intelligence will positively impact productivity. The combined net positive coefficient for both surveyed groups, i.e., the difference between positive and negative responses, was 33%. Employers also rate the positive impact of AI on productivity much higher. In the case of companies, the net positive coefficient is 41%, and for employees – 24%. Interestingly, an even greater difference – amounting to 20 percentage points (52% to 32% – in favor of companies) – concerns the extent of collaboration within teams.
However, the impact of artificial intelligence is not noticeable in attitudes towards the return to offices. Among employees, a preference for a maximum of one day in the office predominates (51%). The option of two-three days (37%) gained a slight edge over fully remote work (34%). For employers, the proportions are different. Almost half (47%) of companies would prefer a return to offices for 2-3 days. One day was indicated by 39%, and fully remote work by only 22%.
No one doubts that the development of artificial intelligence will change the job market. The only question left open is the scale and pace, which will be different for different branches of the economy. As a result, this will be a process stretched over time, which will give many employees the opportunity to adapt to changes appropriately. However, employers already bear a great responsibility. This is particularly true in the area of corporate culture and explaining why changes are being implemented and what they mean for specific individuals. In an increasingly digital world, the significance of putting employees and their emotional needs at the center of changes will be gaining more importance, which will be a competitive advantage in retaining and attracting the best talent – summarizes Wioletta Marciniak-Mierzwa, senior manager in the Workforce Advisory team, EY Poland.
About the Study
The fourth edition of the global EY – Work Reimagined Survey – was conducted between June and August on a group of 17,050 employees and 1,575 companies. They represented 25 market sectors and 20 geographical areas from both Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa.
