The Readiness Index is a global study commissioned by LHH to measure how ready workers feel about taking new steps in their careers. The study focuses on the financial sector, collecting data from 2,000 people in France, the US, and the UK.
Uncover subconscious insights
The project aims to uncover the factors that drive readiness in individuals and organisations as they navigate job transitions, promotions, and leadership roles.
This is particularly relevant in the current period of transformation and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and technological advances.
An extensive psychological literature review explored the themes related to taking the next step in one’s career. Armed with these findings, the index statistically quantifies which factors are most important in driving ‘readiness’.
We focused on personal factors (e.g., anxiety, feeling in control, feeling excluded), workplace factors (e.g., poor management, concerns over company culture), and wider environmental factors (e.g., the impact of tech and the COVID-19 pandemic).
In terms of measurement, we went above and beyond traditional survey methods. Our index used mixed research methods of IRT (Implicit Response Test) and an explicit questionnaire to capture both conscious and unconscious responses.
Overall, the Global Readiness Score show a positive trend, with people feeling 7.7/10 ready to take the next step in their career.
Three interesting trends emerged from this study:
The 18-24 age group has the lowest Readiness Score, likely due to starting their careers in a post-COVID hybrid working world. We found that, typically, this group experiences high levels of anxiety, a lack of self-confidence and feelings of exclusion, with limited mentorship opportunities and concerns about environmental factors.
Women tend to have more positive relationships at work and focus on personal growth, whilst men have a more competitive mindset, with negative perceptions of their manager and colleagues. Women are more anxious about their next move and worried about opportunities in hybrid working and job availability.
People are more worried about immediate environmental factors, such as the economy and hybrid working. Men are more worried about tech than women, and the French express more concern than the Brits and Americans. A group labelled as 'The Technophobes' is particularly anxious and less optimistic, feeling unable to utilise their skills in the rapidly changing technological environment.
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