Understanding the Southeast Asian workforce's pursuit of purpose is essential for transitioning to a regional economy that is both fair and sustainable.
Southeast Asia shows rapid economic evolution, maintaining its status as one of the fastest-growing regions globally for nearly a decade. This dynamic economic landscape is energized by a youthful workforce, with the World Bank estimating that out of approximately 350.5 million workers in ASEAN, 60% are under the age of 30. Yet, this economic vibrancy is shadowed by sustainability challenges: according to the International Energy Agency , current growth model forecasts a 35% increase in CO2 emissions by 2030, highlighting an urgent need for sustainable economic reform.
Among growing climate awareness, Southeast Asian governments are recognizing the imminent risks to their economies. Without intervention, the Asian Development Bank warns that climate repercussions could contract the region's economy by up to 11% by the century's end. Consequently, sustainability is ascending the corporate agenda, catalyzing a surge in demand for green skills and jobs.
This shift is not just institutional but deeply personal.
As societies navigate the ramifications of climate change and economic disparity, individuals are increasingly seeking roles that transcend traditional financial incentives, aligning personal values with professional endeavors.
In response to these evolving dynamics, Jobs_that_makesense Asia and Manpower have embarked on a pioneering survey to decode the quest for purpose at work, particularly in the Southeast Asian context. This collaborative research initiative emerges in a landscape where the narrative of meaningful work, especially post-COVID and among Generation Z, has proliferated yet remains inadequately explored through empirical studies. Our survey aims to carve out a region-specific understanding of what constitutes meaningful work, delving into the personal and societal drives steering individuals towards purpose-driven careers.
Spanning Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, this comprehensive survey endeavors to chart the contours of the region's professional aspirations. It seeks to unearth the underlying expectations of the Southeast Asian workforce and provide actionable insights for employers to align more closely with the emerging paradigm of purpose-driven employment.
This study marks a significant step in dissecting the intricate relationship between individual aspirations and regional economic imperatives, setting the stage for a more inclusive and sustainable economic model.
Understanding the Southeast Asian workforce's pursuit of purpose is essential for transitioning to a regional economy that is both fair and sustainable.
Editorial.
In response to these evolving dynamics, Jobs_that_makesense Asia and Manpower have embarked on a pioneering survey to decode the quest for purpose at work, particularly in the Southeast Asian context. This collaborative research initiative emerges in a landscape where the narrative of meaningful work, especially post-COVID and among Generation Z, has proliferated yet remains inadequately explored through empirical studies. Our survey aims to carve out a region-specific understanding of what constitutes meaningful work, delving into the personal and societal drives steering individuals towards purpose-driven careers.
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1 The Asean Post
2 IEA Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2022
3 The Asian Development Bank
430
96%
53%
Southeast Asia shows rapid economic evolution, maintaining its status as one of the fastest-growing regions globally for nearly a decade. This dynamic economic landscape is energized by a youthful workforce, with the World Bank estimating that out of approximately 350.5 million workers in ASEAN, 60% are under the age of 30. Yet, this economic vibrancy is shadowed by sustainability challenges: according to the International Energy Agency , current growth model forecasts a 35% increase in CO2 emissions by 2030, highlighting an urgent need for sustainable economic reform.
In 3 points, our key findings
In the Jobs_that_makesense Asia - Manpower's The Quest for Meaning at Work Survey, 2,023 respondents—including employees, students, and job-seekers across six countries, with 430 participants from Thailand — were invited to share their perspectives on meaningful work. They provided insights into their definitions of purposeful employment, the motivations and challenges they face in seeking more meaningful roles, and their expectations from companies to enhance their sense of purpose at work.
Executive Summary
In Thailand, 96% of survey participants express the importance of finding a sense of meaning in their professional endeavors. This sentiment resonates across the region, with 98% of respondents emphasizing the significance of this aspect in their careers.
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More than half of the respondents expect their companies to take a leading role in promoting sustainability initiatives. They also advocate for the creation of more positions dedicated to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibilities and the provision of learning programs for employees that focus on societal impact and sustainability.
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The importance of a company's reputation, especially in terms of social and environmental responsibility, has emerged as a crucial consideration for job seekers. Indeed, 79% of survey participants stated that a company's standing in these domains influence their choice to seek employment with them, surpassing the regional average of 77%.
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Table of Contents
Deciphering Purpose in the thailand Workforce
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Survey Overview
Survey Overview
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Deciphering Purpose in the thailand Workforce
Deciphering purpose in the thailand workforce
Definitions and Perceptions
How do Thais define and perceive the notion of Purposeful Work?
Purposeful Work
The insights from Thailand participants reflect the broader regional trends in perceptions and attitudes.
Based on the insights gathered from our survey, we HAVE crafted a nuanced understanding of "purpose at work" as it's seen in THAILAND:
For the Thailand workforce, purpose at work encapsulates the meaningful and fulfilling aspect of one's professional life, emphasizing personal growth, collaboration, and the pursuit of happiness. It aligns individual goals with broader societal and environmental contributions, fostering a sense of responsibility, satisfaction, and balance between personal and professional life. Purposeful work is about creating value, not just economically, but also in terms of personal fulfillment and positive societal impact, inspiring individuals to strive for better every day, engage meaningfully with their tasks, and contribute to a more developed and sustainable society.
When prompted with the question, "Could you describe in three words what seeking purpose signifies to you?" the highlighted words below represent the terms most frequently mentioned by the 430 respondents.
The essence of meaningful work for the THAI workforce can be distilled into FOUR key components
Purposeful Work
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Personal Fulfillment
Work-Life Harmony
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Community and Belonging
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Positive Social Impact
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of respondents believe that all kinds of groups — from charities and community organizations to governments and businesses — have the potential to significantly benefit the planet. However, half of the respondents underscore the necessity for businesses to demonstrate genuine action and adherence to their environmental and social commitments. Essentially, while recognizing the capacity of all organizations to contribute to societal improvement, there's a particular emphasis on the need for corporations to transparently and authentically engage with their sustainability and societal strategies.
