More than half of HR professionals in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei (54%) are satisfied with their jobs, according to a study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.  

However, the study pointed out that burnout from being at the frontline in helping their organisations deal with the recent pandemic, and new, persistent challenges mean that some people professionals are feeling overwhelmed.

Just under half of the respondents surveyed for the CIPD’s report said their organisation has felt the negative impact of the current economic climate. Many companies are experiencing talent attraction and retention issues as employees pursue more competitive offerings externally. Meanwhile, cost pressures are challenging people professionals to find creative solutions to strengthen the employee experience.

May Leng Kwok, Regional Head APAC, CIPD, said “Following the pandemic, we have seen an emergence of shifting workplace trends, causing talent retention challenges across Asia Pacific. The people profession has been on the frontline of these changes, and it’s clear that this has impacted their job satisfaction and work-life balance.”

To address this, the CIPD recommends a focus on wellbeing, job mobility, building professional networks, and ongoing professional development and long-term skills to boost job satisfaction and build resilience amongst people professionals.

Meanwhile, the study also found that three in four respondents were keen to advance their careers. Senior managers were the most likely to want to advance their career within another organisation while those less senior were keen to advance their careers within their current organisation.

The top three considerations for professionals in choosing a job in the next three years are financial remuneration (56%), career progression (51%) and flexible working (39%).

Upskilling, attaining certification and networking are considered key for advancing careers. Most, or 86% of respondents felt that upskilling was important, while all respondents working in senior management roles recognised its importance.

The top three skills perceived to support career progression in the people profession are business partnering (51%), learning and development (38%), and organisation design and development (34%).