Future of Work Poll Results

Australian Future of Work Poll March 2014
Contact for data enquiries

Dr Brigid Van Wanrooy Centre for Workplace Leadership brigid.vanwanrooy@unimelb.edu.au Ph. (03) 9035 5892
Contact for interview

Professor Peter Gahan Centre for Workplace Leadership peter.gahan@unimelb.edu.au Ph. (03) 9035 9740
An online poll of 1,007 Australians was conducted in March 2014 by the Centre for Workplace Leadership, to gauge views of the future of work. The participants were aged 18 years or older and were currently employed. Around half (49%) of Australian workers strongly agreed or agreed that they are worried about what the future holds for them at work. Executive and middle managers were worried more than non-managerial employees (54% and 47%, respectively). And the concern was equally felt among workers below the age of 45 while the likelihood of workers being worried about the future decreased among older workers. Around half of Australians aged 18-24 (52%), 25-34 (53%), and 35-44 (49%) agreed that they were worried about their future at work, while 44% of workers aged 45-54 years felt the same way, and only one-third (35%) of workers aged over 55 years felt that way. Australians are not only worried about the future, but their jobs are having an impact on the present. One-fifth (21%) of Australian workers reported that their job interfered with their commitments outside of work either all or most of the time. Not surprisingly, executive and middle managers were more likely to report interference (38%) than non-managerial employees (15%). Younger workers were more likely to report that their job frequently interfered with their life, and it became less so with age. For example, 29% of workers aged 18-24 and those aged 25-34 reported that their job interfered with their life all or most of the time, followed by 20% of workers aged 35-44 and 45-54; while this was reported by only 6% of workers aged over 55.
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CENTRE FOR WORKPLACE LEADERSHIP
info@workplaceleadership.com.au
www.workplaceleadership.com.au
Australian Future of Work Poll March 2014
Despite their concern for the future, most (79%) of the Australian workforce indicated they were still open to change in their workplace in order to improve productivity. However, one-fifth (21%) voiced resistance to change and said they would prefer for their workplace to remain the same. Workers in the early stages of their career aged 25-34 were most open to making changes at their workplace to improve productivity, with only 10% wanting their workplace to remain the same. The most common types of change nominated by workers to increase their productivity were: more effective leadership and management, and the introduction of new equipment or up-to-date technology (26% and 25%, respectively). More input into decisions that affect them at work, and a better physical work environment were nominated by 16% and 13% of employed Australians, respectively. In particular, senior and middle management nominated putting in place new equipment or technology (32%) as the key to improving productivity, while 20% nominated more effective leadership and management. On the other hand, non-managerial employees suggested that more effective leadership and management (30%), followed by new equipment or technology (22%) are changes that would improve productivity. More effective leadership and management was highlighted as the most productive change by people working in government (35%), accommodation and food & beverage services (30%), as well as caring services (e.g. health, education, and social services) (29%). On the other hand, professional and blue collar workers identified better equipment and technology (29% and 28%, respectively) as the most important change to improve productivity. In addition, those who work in caring and professional services nominated more input into decisions that affect them at work (19% and 18%, respectively), while workers in accommodation and food & beverage services highlighted that improving their physical work environment (17%) as key to improving productivity. The results suggest that the Australian workforce agrees that more effective leadership and management and better equipment or technology are key drivers to improving their productivity at work.
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Appendix Data tables

Topline Results
QGender Are you...? Cumulative Frequency Valid Male Female Total 548 459 1007 Percent 54.4 45.6 100.0 Valid Percent 54.4 45.6 100.0 Percent 54.4 100.0
dAgeband ** Dummy variable : dAgeband ** Cumulative Frequency Valid 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+ Total 140 240 228 219 181 1007 Percent 13.9 23.8 22.6 21.8 17.9 100.0 Valid Percent 13.9 23.8 22.6 21.8 17.9 100.0 Percent 13.9 37.7 60.3 82.1 100.0
QLocation In which state or territory do you live? Cumulative Frequency Valid ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA Total 22 312 10 197 74 21 252 118 1007 Percent 2.2 31.0 1.0 19.6 7.4 2.1 25.0 11.7 100.0 Valid Percent 2.2 31.0 1.0 19.6 7.4 2.1 25.0 11.7 100.0 Percent 2.2 33.2 34.2 53.8 61.2 63.3 88.3 100.0
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S1 What is your employment status? Cumulative Frequency Valid Work full time Work part time Total 639 368 1007 Percent 63.5 36.5 100.0 Valid Percent 63.5 36.5 100.0 Percent 63.5 100.0
Q1 Which of these best describes your role at work? Valid Frequency Valid Executive or Senior Management (e.g. CEO, Owner, General Manager, Partner) Middle Management (e.g. Department or Group manager) Supervisor of other employees No supervisory responsibilities Self-employed with no employees. Total 72 Percent 7.2 Percent 7.2 Cumulative Percent 7.2
160 219 471 84 1007
15.9 21.8 46.8 8.4 100.0
15.9 21.8 46.8 8.4 100.0
23.1 44.9 91.6 100.0
Q2 Which of these best describes your workplace? Valid Frequency Valid Blue collar (e.g. transport, construction, manufacturing) Professional services (e.g. lawyers, accountants, telecommunications) Caring services (e.g. health, education, social services) Accommodation, food or beverage services Government (e.g. Federal, State, Local) Total 249 Percent 24.8 Percent 24.8 Cumulative Percent 24.8
372
36.9
36.9
61.7
223 81 82 1007
22.2 8.0 8.1 100.0
22.2 8.0 8.1 100.0
83.9 91.9 100.0
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Q3 How often does your job interfere with your other commitments outside of work? Cumulative Frequency Valid All of the time Most of the time Some of the time Occasionally Never Total 79 131 328 312 158 1007 Percent 7.8 13.0 32.5 30.9 15.7 100.0 Valid Percent 7.8 13.0 32.5 30.9 15.7 100.0 Percent 7.8 20.9 53.4 84.3 100.0
Q4 Which of the following changes would be most likely to improve your productivity at work? Valid Frequency Valid New equipment or up-to-date technology. More input into decisions that affect me at work. A better physical work environment. More effective leadership and management. None of these. I'd prefer for things to remain the same. Total 251 Percent 24.9 Percent 24.9 Cumulative Percent 24.9
158 126 258
15.7 12.5 25.6
15.7 12.5 25.6
40.7 53.2 78.8
214 1007
21.2 100.0
21.2 100.0
100.0
Q5 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement. I'm worried about what the future holds for me at work. Cumulative Frequency Valid Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Total 161 331 278 171 65 1007 Percent 16.0 32.9 27.6 17.0 6.5 100.0 Valid Percent 16.0 32.9 27.6 17.0 6.5 100.0 Percent 16.0 48.9 76.5 93.5 100.0
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Managers (Executive and Middle) and Non-managerial Employees

Q3 How often does your job interfere with your other commitments outside of work? * Non-managerial employees Crosstabulation Nonmanagerial Managers Q3 How often does your job interfere with your other commitments outside of work? Most of the time Some of the time Occasionally All of the time Count % Non-managerial employees Count % Non-managerial employees Count % Non-managerial employees Count % Non-managerial employees Never Count % Non-managerial employees Total Count % Non-managerial employees 31 13.3% 58 24.9% 82 35.2% 47 20.2% 15 6.4% 233 100.0% Employees 42 6.1% 62 9.0% 220 31.9% 238 34.5% 128 18.6% 690 100.0% Total 73 7.9% 120 13.0% 302 32.7% 285 30.9% 143 15.5% 923 100.0%
Q4 Which of the following changes would be most likely to improve your productivity at work? * Non-managerial employees Crosstabulation Nonmanagerial Managers Q4 Which of the following changes would be most likely to improve your productivity at work? New equipment or up-todate technology. More input into decisions that affect me at work. A better physical work environment. More effective leadership and management. None of these. I'd prefer for things to remain the same. Total Count % Non-managerial employees Count % Non-managerial employees Count % Non-managerial employees Count % Non-managerial employees Count % Non-managerial employees Count % Non-managerial employees 74 31.9% 45 19.4% 30 12.9% 46 19.8% 37 15.9% 232 100.0% Employees 150 21.7% 110 15.9% 80 11.6% 205 29.7% 146 21.1% 691 100.0% Total 224 24.3% 155 16.8% 110 11.9% 251 27.2% 183 19.8% 923 100.0%
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Q5 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement. I'm worried about what the future holds for me at work. * Non-managerial employees Crosstabulation Nonmanagerial Managers Q5 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement. I'm worried about what the future holds for me at work. Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree Count % within Non-managerial employees Count % within Non-managerial employees Count % within Non-managerial employees Count % within Non-managerial employees Strongly disagree Count % within Non-managerial employees Total Count % within Non-managerial employees 46 19.7% 80 34.3% 51 21.9% 42 18.0% 14 6.0% 233 100.0% Employees 108 15.6% 217 31.4% 201 29.1% 119 17.2% 46 6.7% 691 100.0% Total 154 16.7% 297 32.1% 252 27.3% 161 17.4% 60 6.5% 924 100.0%
Gender
Q3 How often does your job interfere with your other commitments outside of work? * Gender Crosstabulation Gender Male Q3 How often does your job interfere with your other commitments outside of work? Some of the time Most of the time All of the time Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Occasionally Count % within Gender Never Count % within Gender Total Count % within Gender 55 10.0% 83 15.1% 177 32.2% 154 28.1% 80 14.6% 549 100.0% Female 24 5.2% 49 10.7% 151 32.9% 157 34.2% 78 17.0% 459 100.0% Total 79 7.8% 132 13.1% 328 32.5% 311 30.9% 158 15.7% 1008 100.0%
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Q4 Which of the following changes would be most likely to improve your productivity at work? * Gender Crosstabulation Gender Male Q4 Which of the New equipment or up-to-date Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender 161 29.4% 87 15.9% 63 11.5% 138 25.2% 99 18.1% 548 100.0% Female 91 19.8% 71 15.4% 63 13.7% 120 26.1% 115 25.0% 460 100.0% Total 252 25.0% 158 15.7% 126 12.5% 258 25.6% 214 21.2% 1008 100.0%
following changes would technology. be most likely to improve More input into decisions that your productivity at affect me at work. work? A better physical work environment.
More effective leadership and Count management. None of these. I'd prefer for things to remain the same. Total % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender
Q5 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement. I'm worried about what the future holds for me at work. * Gender Crosstabulation Gender Male Q5 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement. I'm worried about what the future holds for me at work. Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Count % within Gender Strongly disagree Count % within Gender Total Count % within Gender 97 17.7% 171 31.2% 168 30.7% 76 13.9% 36 6.6% 548 100.0% Female 65 14.2% 160 34.9% 110 24.0% 95 20.7% 29 6.3% 459 100.0% Total 162 16.1% 331 32.9% 278 27.6% 171 17.0% 65 6.5% 1007 100.0%
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Age Groups
Q3 How often does your job interfere with your other commitments outside of work? * Age group** Crosstabulation Age group 18-24 Q3 How often does your job interfere with your other commitments outside of work? Most of the time All of the time Count % within Age group Count % within Age group Some of the time Count % within Age group Occasionally Count % within Age group Never Count % within Age group Total Count % within Age group 12 8.5% 29 20.6% 43 30.5% 38 27.0% 19 13.5% 141 100.0% 25-34 31 13.0% 37 15.5% 86 36.0% 62 25.9% 23 9.6% 239 100.0% 35-44 19 8.3% 27 11.8% 75 32.9% 76 33.3% 31 13.6% 228 100.0% 45-54 14 6.4% 30 13.7% 68 31.1% 70 32.0% 37 16.9% 219 100.0% 55+ 3 1.7% 8 4.4% 56 31.1% 66 36.7% 47 26.1% 180 100.0% Total 79 7.8% 131 13.0% 328 32.6% 312 31.0% 157 15.6% 1007 100.0%
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Q4 Which of the following changes would be most likely to improve your productivity at work? * Age group ** Crosstabulation Age group 18-24 Q4 Which of the following New equipment or up-to-date Count % within Age group Count % within Age group Count % within Age group Count % within Age group Count % within Age group Count % within Age group 34 24.3% 31 22.1% 22 15.7% 30 21.4% 23 16.4% 140 100.0% 25-34 74 31.0% 43 18.0% 34 14.2% 64 26.8% 24 10.0% 239 100.0% 35-44 54 23.8% 36 15.9% 31 13.7% 67 29.5% 39 17.2% 227 100.0% 45-54 48 22.0% 26 11.9% 26 11.9% 63 28.9% 55 25.2% 218 100.0% 55+ 41 22.8% 21 11.7% 12 6.7% 34 18.9% 72 40.0% 180 100.0% Total 251 25.0% 157 15.6% 125 12.5% 258 25.7% 213 21.2% 1004 100.0%
changes would be most likely to technology. improve your productivity at work? More input into decisions that affect me at work. A better physical work environment. More effective leadership and management. None of these. I'd prefer for things to remain the same. Total
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Q5 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement. I'm worried about what the future holds for me at work. Age group ** Crosstabulation Age group 18-24 Q5 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement. I'm worried Agree about what the future holds for me at work. Neither agree nor disagree Strongly agree Count % within Age group Count % within Age group Count % within Age group Disagree Count % within Age group Strongly disagree Count % within Age group Total Count % within Age group 23 16.5% 49 35.3% 48 34.5% 14 10.1% 5 3.6% 139 100.0% 25-34 46 19.2% 81 33.9% 64 26.8% 37 15.5% 11 4.6% 239 100.0% 35-44 29 12.7% 82 36.0% 61 26.8% 45 19.7% 11 4.8% 228 100.0% 45-54 41 18.6% 78 35.5% 54 24.5% 36 16.4% 11 5.0% 220 100.0% 55+ 22 12.2% 41 22.8% 51 28.3% 39 21.7% 27 15.0% 180 100.0% Total 161 16.0% 331 32.9% 278 27.6% 171 17.0% 65 6.5% 1006 100.0%
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Industry
Q3 How often does your job interfere with your other commitments outside of work? * Q2 Which of these best describes your workplace? Crosstabulation Q2 Which of these best describes your workplace? 2 Professional services (e.g. 1 Blue collar (e.g. transport, construction, manufacturing) Q3 How often does 1 All of the time your job interfere with your other commitments outside of work? 2 Most of the time Count % within Industry Count % within Industry 3 Some of the time Count % within Industry 4 Occasionally Count % within Industry 5 Never Count % within Industry Total Count % within Industry 20 8.0% 28 11.2% 64 25.5% 89 35.5% 50 19.9% 251 100.0% lawyers, accountants, telecommunicatio ns) 38 10.2% 61 16.4% 132 35.5% 96 25.8% 45 12.1% 372 100.0% 3 Caring services (e.g. health, education, social services) 13 5.8% 31 13.9% 84 37.7% 66 29.6% 29 13.0% 223 100.0% 4 Accommodation, food or beverage services 5 6.1% 9 11.0% 25 30.5% 30 36.6% 13 15.9% 82 100.0% 5 Government (e.g. Federal, State, Local) 3 3.7% 2 2.4% 24 29.3% 31 37.8% 22 26.8% 82 100.0% Total 79 7.8% 131 13.0% 329 32.6% 312 30.9% 159 15.7% 1010 100.0%
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Q4 Which of the following changes would be most likely to improve your productivity at work? * Q2 Which of these best describes your workplace? Crosstabulation Q2 Which of these best describes your workplace? 2 Professional services (e.g. 1 Blue collar (e.g. transport, construction, manufacturing) Q4 Which of the following changes would be most likely to improve your productivity at work? 1 New equipment or Count 71 28.5% 31 12.4% 27 10.8% 63 25.3% 57 22.9% 249 100.0% lawyers, accountants, telecommunication s) 109 29.4% 66 17.8% 49 13.2% 77 20.8% 70 18.9% 371 100.0% 3 Caring services (e.g. health, education, social services) 37 16.5% 42 18.8% 29 12.9% 65 29.0% 51 22.8% 224 100.0% 4 Accommodation, food or beverage services 14 17.3% 11 13.6% 14 17.3% 24 29.6% 18 22.2% 81 100.0% 5 Government (e.g. Federal, State, Local) 21 25.3% 8 9.6% 7 8.4% 29 34.9% 18 21.7% 83 100.0% Total 252 25.0% 158 15.7% 126 12.5% 258 25.6% 214 21.2% 1008 100.0%
up-to-date technology. % within Industry 2 More input into decisions that affect me at work. 3 A better physical work environment. 4 More effective leadership and management. 5 None of these. I'd prefer for things to remain the same. Count % within Industry Count % within Industry Count % within Industry Count % within Industry
Total
Count % within Industry
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Q5 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement. I'm worried about what the future holds for me at work. * Q2 Which of these best describes your workplace? Crosstabulation Q2 Which of these best describes your workplace? 1 Blue collar (e.g. transport, construction, manufacturi ng) Q5 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement. I'm worried about what the future holds for me at work. 3 Neither agree nor disagree 4 Disagree 2 Agree 1 Strongly agree Count % within Industry Count % within Industry Count % within Industry Count % within Industry 5 Strongly disagree Total Count % within Industry Count % within Industry 51 20.6% 77 31.0% 72 29.0% 35 14.1% 13 5.2% 248 100.0% 2 Professional services (e.g. lawyers, accountants, telecommunicatio ns) 59 15.9% 128 34.4% 101 27.2% 61 16.4% 23 6.2% 372 100.0% 3 Caring services (e.g. health, education, social services) 30 13.4% 72 32.1% 64 28.6% 45 20.1% 13 5.8% 224 100.0% 4 Accommodation, food or beverage services 11 13.4% 26 31.7% 22 26.8% 16 19.5% 7 8.5% 82 100.0% 5 Government (e.g. Federal, State, Local) 11 13.4% 29 35.4% 19 23.2% 14 17.1% 9 11.0% 82 100.0% Total 162 16.1% 332 32.9% 278 27.6% 171 17.0% 65 6.4% 1008 100.0%
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Future of Work Poll Results

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Australian Future of Work Poll March 2014

Contact for data enquiries

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Australian Future of Work Poll March 2014

Appendix Data tables

160 219 471 84 1007

15.9 21.8 46.8 8.4 100.0

15.9 21.8 46.8 8.4 100.0

23.1 44.9 91.6 100.0

22.2 8.0 8.1 100.0

22.2 8.0 8.1 100.0

83.9 91.9 100.0

158 126 258

15.7 12.5 25.6

15.7 12.5 25.6

40.7 53.2 78.8

Managers (Executive and Middle) and Non-managerial Employees

Count % within Industry

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