Digital awareness is rising, but we’re not there yet, according to Randstad’s fourth-quarter Workmonitor survey released today.

Globally, 84% of global respondents acknowledge the importance for their current employer to have a digital strategy, while only 59% state that their company actually has one, according to the latest survey. This includes 73% of US respondents. Employers in India and China scored highest on this scale at 84% and 81% respectively, whereas employers in Japan and Hungary scored at the low end at 42% and 41% respectively.

With regard to digitization, 68% of the global respondents agree that the employees at their current employer do not have the required skill sets that are necessary for digitization and 62% admit that they personally need to acquire more skills in order to guarantee their future employability.

In addition, 62% of the global respondents state that they could add more personal value to their work if repetitive tasks could be automated; the percentages in China and India are much higher.

The survey addresses other concerns as well.

Economic outlook: Globally, 52% of the respondents expect the economic situation in their country to improve, whereas 58% said so in the last two years. With regard to their current employer’s financial performance, 68% expect this to improve into 2017; last year, 71% did so. Findings compared to the global number differ considerably in India at 94%, China at 83%, and the US at 83%.

Mobility index down to 108: Fewer employees worldwide expect to be employed elsewhere in the coming six months than they did in the previous quarter, so the Mobility Index has decreased to 108. The lowest point in the last 2.5 years.

Actual job change down: For the first time in four quarters, actual job change is down to the same level as the end of end 2015: 22%. The actual job change was highest in India, and increased in Australia, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Hungary, India, New Zealand, Poland, Spain and the Netherlands. In Hong Kong, Italy and Luxembourg, the job change decreased compared to last quarter. And, although it increased to 10% from 7%, actual job change in Luxembourg is the lowest for the fifth quarter in a row. 

Appetite to change jobs highest in India: Compared to last quarter, the job change appetite — i.e., the desire to change jobs — increased in China, Denmark, Greece, Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Italy. Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, India, Malaysia, Poland, Switzerland and the US show a decrease in appetite compared to previous quarter.

Job satisfaction highest in US and Mexico: Compared to last quarter, job satisfaction was highest in the US and Mexico at 845 and 83% respectively. Job satisfaction increased in Czech Republic and New Zealand but decreased in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Poland, Portugal, Singapore and UK.

The Randstad Workmonitor covers 33 countries around the world. The fourth-quarter study was conducted online from Oct. 26 to Nov. 9, 2016. The minimum sample size is 400 interviews per country.