Move To A New Place? No Problem

More than three quarters of Indian workers said that they would be prepared
to relocate to a different city to find work while a similar number are willing
to move to a different country, according to a recent survey conducted by Kelly
Services, a Fortune 500 staffing company. The survey also suggests that some
Indian workers are willing to devote long hours traveling to and from work, with
14 percent prepared to spend one hour or more commuting each way.

The global survey sought the views of 1,15,000 people in 33 countries,
including almost 3,000 in India, about their patterns of travel to and from
work, their capacity to move to find the right job and the main factors
preventing them from relocating.

Dhirendra Shantilal, Senior VP-APAC, Kelly Services said that the survey
revealed a high degree of mobility in the workforce, with majority of people
comfortable with the idea of moving considerable distances for the right job.
“With a more globalized workforce, there is increasingly a recognition that
people may have to relocate to find the right work, or to advance their career,”
he added.

As per the survey, the chance to move to a different city or country can be a
rewarding professional experience as well as a good lifestyle choice.
“Employees, in general, have become much more mobile and are willing to be
flexible in both their travel and living arrange­ments to find the right job.”

Globally, youth are the most flexible when it comes to relocation but in
India, there is a consistent pattern of all age groups being prepared to
consider relocation for work. Males, compared to women, are more comfortable
while relocating for work.

When asked to rank the main complicating factors in moving to another country
for work, the overwhelming issue was family, cited by 55 percent, followed by
children's schooling (28 percent), language barriers (27 percent), property
ownership (16 percent), tax complications (13 percent) and
pension/superannuation rights (seven percent).

The survey found that in India, 44 percent of people, before they retire,
would like to move away from the place where they currently live and work. “This
suggests that significant number of people will be actively looking to change
their jobs, homes and lifestyles, with implications for employment, urban
planning and transport infrastructure,” Shantilal said.

Traveling times to and from work are a key consideration for employees and
the majority (67 percent) are not willing to spend more than 45 minutes, each
way, commuting. However, 18 percent are willing to spend 45-60 minutes and 14
percent are willing to spend 60 minutes or more each way.

(Contributed by Kelly Services)