Another reason for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) to set up shop in the Philippines was added as Filipinos have been found to be the happiest employees– across all job levels (from fresh graduates to managerial levels) – in the region.
According to the 2016 Job Happiness Index Report headed by JobStreet.com, the Filipinos have a happiness average of 6.25, leading the way among seven Asian countries surveyed.
Rounding out the seven-nation list were Indonesia – second with 6.16; Thailand, third with 5.74; Hong Kong, fourth with 5.54; Vietnam fifth at 5.48; Malaysia at sixth with 5.22, and Singapore last at 5.09.
A total of 50,000 respondents from the seven countries were interviewed online over the period of June to July 2016, which included a total of 12,796 Filipino respondents.
Expatriate managers and supervisors in the country have always expressed their general fondness and appreciation for Filipino workers for their English-speaking skills, job dedication, and positive attitude.
Local level
Cebu leads the way in the Philippines, posting a 6.38 average job satisfaction rating among 518 respondents, topping other labor-rich areas such as CALABARZON (Calamba, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) with 6.26, Metro Manila with 6.14, and the former Negros Island region with 6.09 average.
Cebu’s job happiness index is also higher than the national average with 76 of every 100 Cebuano employees claiming to be at least neutral to extremely happy with their jobs. The national job happiness index is 73, tying with CALABARZON. Metro Manila and Negros Island Region are next with 71 and 67, respectively.
On the subject of tenure, Cebuano employees who are less than a year into their jobs topped job happiness, followed by those with three to less than five years stay in their present jobs.
The happiest employees by industry are still headed by Cebuanos, this time among the province’s government employees at 7.57. Those working in Cebu’s retail and banking industries complete the top three with 7.13 and 6.69 respectively.
Top factors causing job happiness are good relationship with colleagues, convenient work location, and working with a conducive schedule.
Top factors causing job unhappiness are poor salary, poor benefits/perks, and poor management and leadership team.
Factors in increasing job happiness are salary raises, new jobs, and additional training
or further education.
JobStreet.com is Asia’s leading job marketplace. In Cebu, the company has been servicing the employers of Visayas and Mindanao for the past 11 years.
 
By RICHARD RAMOS