Workers’ expectations for pay raises, flexibility and career development are on the rise, according to ADP Research Institute’s “People at Work 2023: A Global Workforce View” report released today. Globally, 10% of workers expect a salary increase of over 15% in the next 12 months.

When asked about the most important factor in a job, 61% of the survey respondents pointed to salary, followed closely by job security and career progression at 43% and 40%, respectively. In addition, 62% of workers said they are confident that they will get a pay raise, while 41% expect a bonus from their current employers in the next 12 months.

“Workplace dynamics are beginning to solidify after three years of pandemic-driven disruptions, with workers remaining consistent in wanting increased pay, flexibility, and a positive workplace culture; however, the interplay among these factors will challenge employers to get creative in order to meet employees' needs,” said Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. “Forward-thinking leaders will need to find ways to help safeguard workers' financial health while bolstering their professional development."

The report also found that for most workers, deciding when they work is more important than where they work. Most workers agreed that flexibility in hours is more important than flexibility in location. In addition, when asked about the most important factors in a job, 29% of workers said the flexibility of hours was most important, compared to 17% who cited the flexibility of location.

The report noted that the recent trend of digital nomads has the potential to become a permanent fixture of the workforce, with nearly half of workers, 48%, saying they could relocate overseas and still work for their existing employer. Twenty-eight percent of workers think that within five years, it will be the norm in their industry to have the ability to work anywhere in the world.

For the report, ADP surveyed more than 32,000 workers — including those in the gig economy — across 17 countries.