WORKFORCE 2024
Korn Ferry's Global Insights Report
If you understand your people, you understand what drives your business.
And while you might think you know what makes them tick, do you?
That’s why we launched Workforce 2024, Korn Ferry’s survey of professionals around the world. And it’s designed to answer one simple question: what do people want from work?
We spoke to 10,000 professionals at all levels, from entry-level to CEO, in six markets: USA, UK, Brazil, Middle East, Australia, and India. Their insights reveal a global snapshot of how the workforce is feeling in the Americas, EMEA, and APAC.
They told us:
• Their top priorities when choosing a new job
• What keeps them in their current job
• What makes them want to leave a job
• How organizations can motivate their workforce
• Plus hundreds of additional insights into today’s workplace
Find out what people really think about work
Get the
full report
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You know what you want from your people, but do you know what they want from you?
Explore the data below
The highest-ranked priorities for people around the world are the same, although the order varies among different demographics:
The three top employee priorities in 2024
GENEROUS COMPENSATION
Flexible working hours
High Job security
70% of employees around the world feel confident they could easily find
a new role if they left their current company in the next few months.
Employed professionals underestimate struggles of the current job market
Confidence in ability to find a new role in the next few months
Roll over regions to learn more
Among those who resigned from their job last year, 22% quit after being mandated back to an office full-time.
Return to office mandates lead to resignations
22
%
quit
Global workers are excited about how emerging technologies like AI will change the way they work. But 70% of people who fear AI will replace their job are now considering or actively looking for a new job right now.
Employees recognize both the opportunities and risks posed by
AI in the workplace
Under 55
65
OVER 55
of workers under 55 are excited about the potential of AI
32
30
33
37
40
The classic 9 to 5 schedule is being phased out by today’s workforce, who are demanding flexible hours as a must-have for any job.
The non-negotiable perk: flexible hours
Click category to learn more
FlexiblE hours as top driver in choosing a job
FlexiblE hours as top driver in staying at job
INFlexiblE hours as top driver for leaving a job
Introducing Korn Ferry’s Motivation Meter
We’ve been benchmarking employee motivation for our clients through Korn Ferry Listen, our employee survey tool, for 15 years. We’re now bringing this data together with Korn Ferry’s Workforce 2024 Global Insights Report to give us a clear picture of motivation levels across the world.
It also highlights the difference between leaders and employers, regions, diversity dimensions and across industries.
71%
Global
vs regional motivation
Global Motivation is Stable, but the UK and Australia are Down
The Motivation Meter shows the UK workforce has both the lowest motivation levels and has seen the biggest dip in motivation of any country we surveyed, with a drop of 9% from 2023. In contrast, employees in the US and India are more motivated than last year, the highest we’ve seen in those markets for five years.
USA
BRAZIL
UK
MIDDLE EAST
INDIA
AUS
2019
2020
2021
2022, 2023, 2024 >
68
72
70
No one knows people better.
The impact we create at Korn Ferry spans entire organizations, but it always starts with people. Talent who feel empowered and supported to perform at their best help build businesses that can change the world.
That’s why 97% of the S&P 100 call on our organizational consultancy when they need a clear view of how their business—and their people—can reach their peak potential.
Backed by data, experience, insight, and technology, we help businesses focus on their talent, including finding and developing leaders, unlocking the value of M&As, restructuring, or transforming for the future.
Your organization is full of potential. We’re here to unleash it.
Workforce 2024
Korn Ferry’s Global Insights Report
Get the full report
37
30
28
%
GLOBALLY
USA
UK
BRAZIL
MIDDLE EAST
AUSTRALIA
INDIA
GLOBAL
BRAZIL
UK
USA
MIDDLE EAST
AUSTRALIA
INDIA
71% of CEOs in the US say they
have imposter syndrome and feel stretched beyond their abilities.
Even CEOs struggle with imposter syndrome
Impostor syndrome by job level
USA
UK
MIDDLE EAST
BRAZIL
AUSTRALIA
INDIA
CEO
senior executive
senior leader
MID-LEVEL leader
First level supervisor / manager
individual contributor (Non-Leader)
37
38
30
42
28
27
top priorities for STAYing in a job
top priorities for choosing a new job
71
65
57
49
33
45
43
41
40
40
29
57
60
48
47
35
39
43
29
38
43
34
%
54
47
35
39
31
%
65
60
57
60
50
of those over 55 are excited about AI
39
for staying in a job
for leaving a job
for CHOOSING A NEW job
of those over 55 are excited about AI
but only
CEO
senior executive
senior leader
MID-LEVEL leader
First level supervisor / manager
individual contributor (Non-Leader)
31
26
28
28
30
34
25
27
27
27
26
27
USA
BRAZIL
MIDDLE EAST
(UAE & KSA)
India
UK
AUSTRALIA
75
78
72
84
60
63
2019
2021
73
74
76
2022, 2023, 2024 >
2019
2020
2021
64
69
67
2022, 2023, 2024 >
2019
2020
2021
73
76
80
2022, 2023, 2024 >
2019
2020
2021
78
80
83
2022, 2023, 2024 >
2019
2020
2021
64
72
71
2022, 2023, 2024 >
2022
2023
2024
72
72
75
< 2019, 2020, 2021
2022
2023
2024
78
77
72
< 2019, 2020, 2021
2022
2023
2024
67
69
60
< 2019, 2020, 2021
2020
2022
2023
2024
78
77
78
< 2019, 2020, 2021
2022
2023
2024
81
82
84
< 2019, 2020, 2021
2022
2023
2024
69
70
63
< 2019, 2020, 2021
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Generous compensation
Flexible working hours
HIGH Job security
Low compensation
Lack of career advancement opportunities
LACK OF Job security
Top priorities for leaving a job
Generous compensation
Flexible
working hours
HIGH Job security
CEO
senior executive
senior leader
MID-LEVEL leader
First level supervisor / manager
individual contributor (Non-Leader)
Click on regions to learn more
Top priorities for staying in a job