India’s employment market is set to see plenty of movement as 43% of employees are planning to switch employers in the next six months, this is up from 38% who planned to do so in the same period a year ago, according to Randstad’s Employer Brand Research report for India.

Work-life balance (cited by 49% of employees) and career progression and salary (37%) were found to be the top two reasons to switch jobs.

The research also found that 30% of employees have already switched in the last six months, up from the same period a year ago when a quarter had recently switched employer (24%).

Meanwhile, in 2022, 28% of employees were afraid to lose their job in the coming six months and in 2023 this is nearly the same (29%). Of those who have that fear, 57% are planning to change employer in the next six months. The other way around, those who recently switched have more fear to lose their job (38%) than those who did not (25%), indicating that recent joiners do not yet feel secure about their job at their new employer.

At the same time, 51% of employees agree to be willing to consider re-joining an organisation that they resigned from in the past. Randstad noted that a great employer brand was the primary driving force for 56% of them.

Most employees (89%) find personal career growth to be important, with three quarters (74%) of all employees finding it very important. It comes as 82% of employees feel they get enough opportunities to grow in their role. Only 4% of those who find career growth important do not feel they get the right opportunities. Radnstad said that employers are therefore doing a good job in providing career development where necessary.

Upskilling/reskilling is found important by almost 9 in 10 employees (89%) and are both found to be equally as important.

Randstad’s research also showed that in terms of remote working, while levels are far from those of 2021 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, remote work is still done by the majority. Approximately 40% work partly remotely, and 21% fully remotely.

According to Randstad, two in three employees find Diversity & Inclusion support from their employer important. Mental health and well-being benefits are valued by less, though still by half of the workforce.