Randstad Professionals Perspective

Randstad Professionals Perspective reports quarterly on the attitudes and opinions of both employees and candidates on a variety of topics impacting workplace, careers and on-the-job performance including skills, training, job satisfaction and the economy.

While workers surveyed in the more general employee study reported positive impacts from the recession and a more positive outlook for 2011, locum tenens physicians who were polled by Locum Medical, a Randstad company, perceived more negative effects from the recession and a less than positive outlook for the 2011 job market. These differences can be attributed to the lingering uncertainty over healthcare reform and the continuing budget challenges many hospitals and healthcare organizations are facing.

Key Findings

During a recession, some workers effectively improve their careers by enrolling in training to differentiate themselves or by assuming new responsibilities and gaining new work experience in their current positions. Locum tenens physicians participating in this poll, however, did not report a positive impact from the recent recession on their job or career.

• Majority (77%) of respondents report that the recession did not positively impact their job or career
• 80% of respondents do not believe they gained new skills at a faster rate than they normally would have

Likewise, physician respondents are not optimistic about the job market improving in 2011.

• Despite recent predictions around a more promising job market in 2011, almost two-thirds of respondents (62%) are not confident that the job market will improve in 2011

U.S. Employees Report Recession’s Positive Impact

Almost half (48%) of U.S. employees responding to the Workmonitor survey say they developed new skills because they had to do more or different kinds of work during the recession. More than half (55%) feel entitled to an extra financial reward due to their achievements over the last year.

• 66% believe their companies will continue to do well financially in 2011
• 56% of American employees are expecting a pay raise at the next review period; almost half of those surveyed received a normal cost of living increase last year
• 54% expect their current employment situation (salary, working hours) to improve in 2011
• 43% are looking to be promoted this year
• 73% of U.S. employees are satisfied working for their current employer

Survey Methodology

Randstad Professionals recently conducted an online poll of physician candidates working with its healthcare staffing company, Locum Medical, to gather their insights around the recent recession and their outlook on the future job market. The poll was conducted from November 18, 2010 through January 7, 2011.

Randstad’s Workmonitor quarterly study is conducted online among employees in 27 countries aged 18 - 65, working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid job (not self-employed). The minimum sample size is 400 interviews. This wave was conducted from November 3 through November 17, 2010.

Locum Medical (www.locummedical.com), a Randstad Professionals company, has more than 24 years of staffing experience placing physicians of all specialties in locum tenens, permanent and government service positions across the U.S.

Randstad Professionals (www.randstadusa.com), the professional staffing arm of Randstad, provides temporary, permanent, and outsourced placement within accounting and finance, engineering, healthcare, industrial, IT, legal and life sciences industries.