91% of people in UAE to rely on robots than humans in supporting their career

News Desk - 03/11/2021

According to a new survey by Oracle and Workplace Intelligence, an HR research and advising organization, people are turning to robots to support their professional growth after the COVID-19 pandemic left them feeling lonely and detached from their own lives.

People worldwide have been stuck in their personal and professional lives but are eager to regain control of their futures, according to the research of over 14,600 employees, managers, HR leaders, and C-level executives from 13 countries, including the UAE.

“The past year and a half changed how we work, including where we work and, for a lot of people, who we work for. While there have been a lot of challenges for both employees and employers, this has been an opportunity to change the workplace for the better,” said Dan Schawbel, managing partner, Workplace Intelligence.

He added, “The results clearly show that investment in skills and career development is now a key differentiator for employers as it plays a significant role in employees feeling like they have control over their personal and professional lives. Businesses that invest in their employees and help them find opportunities will reap the benefits of a productive, engaged workforce.”

“The last year set a new course for the future of work. Surprisingly, amongst the stress, anxiety, and loneliness of the global pandemic, employees found their voice, became more empowered, and are now speaking up for what they want,” said Yvette Cameron, senior vice president, Oracle Cloud HCM.

“The evolving nature of the workplace shifted the way people think about success and reset people’s expectations for how organizations can best support them. To attract and retain talent, businesses need to place a higher priority on helping employees identify and develop new skills and provide personalized career journeys so they can feel in control of their careers again,” commented Yvette Cameron.

The global workforce feels lonely, disconnected, and out of control

Many employees are in emotional upheaval as a result of more than a year of lockdown and the ongoing uncertainty caused by the epidemic. They feel as if their lives and jobs are out of their hands.

In the United Arab Emirates, 91% of people have been negatively impacted by the previous year, with many struggling financially (42%), suffering from worsening mental health (26%), lacking career motivation (26%), and feeling detached from their own life (26%). (22 percent).
77 percent said 2021 will be the most difficult year they’ve ever had at work. In 2021, more than half of people (66%) battled with mental health at work more than they did in 2020.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the number of people who believe they have little to no control over their personal and professional lives has doubled. People said they don’t have control over their futures (57%), personal lives (58%), careers (52%), and relationships (52%). (46 percent).
87 percent of individuals feel stuck in their personal life, with 32 percent experiencing fear about the future, 30 percent feeling caught in the same routine, and more loneliness than ever before (28 percent).

People are motivated to make changes but are facing big challenges

Despite struggles over the last year, people around the world are eager to make changes in their professional lives.

96 percent of participants said they used the previous year to reflect on their lives, and 96 percent said the definition of success has altered for them since the pandemic, with work-life balance (42 percent), mental health (40 percent), and workplace flexibility (40 percent) now being top considerations.
89 percent of people feel stuck in their jobs because they don’t have enough prospects for advancement (28 percent) and are too overwhelmed to make any adjustments (24 percent).
84 percent of people report that being stuck in their job has harmed their personal lives by increasing stress and anxiety (47 percent), contributing to personal stagnation (36 percent), and diverting attention away from their personal life (36 percent).
While 97 percent of people are willing to make a change, 89 percent say they are confronted with significant difficulties. Financial insecurity (34 percent); not understanding what career shift makes sense for them (21%); not feeling confident enough to make a change (20 percent), and seeing no growth prospects at their employer (20 percent) are the major roadblocks (29 percent).
By 2022, many people are willing to give up crucial advantages like vacation time (71 percent), monetary bonuses (69 percent), and even a portion of their pay (66 percent) in exchange for increased job prospects.
96 percent of the global workforce, on the other hand, is dissatisfied with their employer’s assistance. They want their employers to provide greater learning and skill development (42%), bigger compensation (32%), and opportunity for new roles inside their company (39 percent).

Employees around the world are hungry for new skills and turning to technology for help

Employers must pay more attention to employee demands than ever before and use technology to give better support to retain and nurture top talent in the face of changing workplace dynamics.

In the United Arab Emirates, 96% of individuals want technology to help them define their future by identifying talents they need to develop (42%), offering ways to learn new skills (42%), and providing the next steps to achieve career goals (42%). (38 percent).
87 percent of people would modify their lives depending on robot advice.
91 percent say robots can better support their careers than humans by providing unbiased advice (38%), rapidly addressing inquiries about their professions (39%), and discovering new opportunities that match their existing talents (39 percent).
People believe that humans still play an important role in career development and that humans are better at providing support by offering advice based on personal experience (49 percent), identifying strengths and weaknesses (47 percent), and looking beyond a resume to recommend roles that fit personalities (47 percent) (41 percent).
94 percent of employees believe their firm should do more to listen to their needs, and 74% say they are more inclined to stay with a company that leverages modern technology like AI to help them improve their careers.

Learn more about this global report here: https://www.oracle.com/human-capital-management/ai-at-work/