- Work is more important to professionals in 'Global South'
countries than it is to their peers in Western countries.
- They also place more value on working longer hours, with a
significant percentage of professionals in China and India willing to work more than 40 hours a
week.
- Westerners lack leadership ambition - only 42% of
respondents express a desire to lead or establish a business. In
the Global South 65% hold this aspiration.
- Global executive search & leadership advisory firm Amrop
surveyed 8,000 people in Brazil,
China, France, Germany, India, Poland, the UK, and US on the meaning of
work.
BRUSSELS, Dec. 23,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Professionals in Western
countries are less ambitious and less interested in work than their
'Global South' peers, a new global study by Amrop, a leading global
executive search and leadership consulting firm, reveals.
"The drive and ambition in India, Brazil, and China highlight a contrast with the aging
societies in the West. As Western nations also face a scarcity of
qualified professionals, the ambition of their workforce becomes a
decisive factor for growth, economic success, and wealth
preservation," states Annika Farin,
Global Chair at Amrop. "Stakeholders should encourage
entrepreneurship and foster interest in both professional and
personal growth in workers."
Notably, 92% of Indians and 87% of Brazilians say they enjoy
working, while the sentiment is lower in Germany (71%), the US (69%), and the UK (68%),
as well as other European countries. Significant variations emerge
in how respondents prioritize their careers: 84% in India assert that a successful career is
crucial for a good life, with high agreement also in China (71%) and Brazil (70%). Conversely, only 43% in
Germany, 40% in France and 37% in Poland share this perspective. In other
Western countries such as the US and UK, over half of respondents
consider their careers vital for a good life.
India Leads with Impressive Work Ethic and Work-Life
Balance
However, divergent work ethics surfaced among Western countries
as well, with 70% in the US prioritizing hard work, contrasting
starkly with the 35% in France who
share the same belief. In this context, India leads at 75%, surpassing Brazil (55%) and China (63%). Chinese professionals also lean
more towards career over private life. Work hours reveal
distinctions: 46% in China and 42%
in India are willing to work over
40 hours, while 29% in the UK, 27% in Germany and only 16% in France, are open to longer working hours. At
the same time 73% in India and 59%
in China assert that they have a
healthy work-life balance, contrasting with 45% in France and 49% in Germany.
"This observation is intriguing. Working fewer hours doesn't
necessarily improve one's perception of work-life balance. If any
connection exists, it appears to be the other way around –
professionals willing to work longer hours also seem to have a
greater sense of work-life balance. In Europe, especially, we need follow-up studies
to find out where these sentiments are coming from, so we know how
to reignite the passion for work," says Farin.
The Lack of Leadership Ambition Extends to Politics
Further results from the survey show that the Global South
countries demonstrate a higher aspiration for leadership roles and
entrepreneurial ventures. Notably, 76% in India express a desire to run or manage a
company, followed by 66% in Brazil
and 54% in China. In contrast, the
UK (52%), the US (49%), France
(37%), and Germany (36%) trail in
these aspirations. The global lack of leadership ambition extends
to politics, with respondents deeming it the least desirable career
across most countries. Only 19% express a motivation to make a
positive impact, with 51% prioritizing financial stability and 39%
aiming for a specific lifestyle.
Looking at these results, Farin emphasizes a further concern,
"In surveying individuals with at least a bachelor's degree across
various countries, our results prompt a crucial question: If most
professionals lack ambition for high-level leadership, who will
shape the future of economies and societies? Our societies rely on
people, their expertise, and motivation. Are we approaching a
future where we question not only corporate leadership but also
national leadership?"
About the Survey
An online survey was conducted and gathered insights from 8,000
participants, with 1,000 respondents from each of the following
countries: Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Poland, the US, and the UK.
The survey aimed for representativeness across these diverse
nations, capturing perspectives from individuals aged 20 to 60 (Gen
Z: 20-26, Young Millennials: 27-34, Old Millennials: 35-42, Gen X:
43-60), all possessing at least a bachelor's degree. Where
applicable, reported results represent the top two answer sets
(strongly agree/agree).
About Amrop
Amrop is a global leadership consulting firm, offering retained
executive search, Board and leadership advisory services. We advise
the world's most dynamic, agile organizations on identifying and
positioning Leaders For What's Next - adept at working across
borders, in markets around the world. Established in 1977, Amrop
operates in Asia, EMEA and the
Americas across 69 offices in 57 countries.
www.amrop.com
Contact:
The Amrop Partnership SC
Rue Abbé Cuypers 3
1040 Brussels, Belgium
T. +32 471 733 825
E. contact@amrop.com
Brigitte Arhold, COO
Logo:
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