Would-be Entrepreneurs

May 17 2002 - 40 per cent of Australians would like to be self-employed and/or their own boss, according to a new survey by global recruitment agency, Kelly Services.

3,000 people were surveyed in four countries - Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore. New Zealanders were most enthusiastic about becoming entrepreneurs with 50 per cent stating they would like to be self employed and/or their own boss; followed by Malaysia (48 per cent), Singapore (42 per cent), and Australia (40 per cent).

Among the Australian respondents, men wanted to be their own bosses more than women - 44 per cent against 38 per cent. People in the 25-34 age group were most attracted to self-employment with 42 per cent wanting to become their own boss/self employed.

According to Managing Director of Kelly Services, Mr Garie Dooley, the findings point to a trend of increasing entrepreneurialism from people who would once have been happy to remain employees.

"New technology and the Internet have opened up a host of opportunities which would previously have been unattainable without the significant resources of a large firm.

"It is possible for many people to set up a business with little more than a mobile phone and an Internet connection. They are able to operate with a minimum of overheads and resources; they can stay in touch with their customers; and even promote themselves globally at relatively low cost."

Another question on the survey asked employees if they were to receive the offer of a very attractive job with the security of a contract, how long they would sign it for?

67% of Australian respondents (67 per cent) said they would sign it for five years or less. Just 12 per cent would sign it for 10 years or longer. Women were less likely than men to commit to a long-term contract.

The youngest respondents were the least willing to commit themselves - even for an attractive job. A mere 5 per cent of 15-19 year olds, 7 per cent of 20-24 year olds, and 6 per cent of 25-34 year olds were willing to sign a contract for 10 years or more for an attractive job. This compared with 19 per cent for 35-44 year olds and 40 per cent for those aged 55 and older.

"We are seeing employees much more prepared to change their careers and their jobs and this appears to be the result of personal choice, not because it will be forced upon them," Mr Dooley said.

"Employees seem to have embraced the end of the job for life and they are certainly not prepared to give their undying loyalty to one employer, even where the job package is considered very attractive."

Participants of the survey were also asked to rate their chances of becoming unemployed at some time in the future. Queensland respondents were most concerned about their futures with 13 per cent imagining they will be unemployed at some point in the future. This was followed by NSW (12 per cent), Victoria (11 per cent), South Australia (10 per cent), and Western Australia (8 per cent). Those aged over 55 were the most uncertain about their jobs with almost 20 per convinced of facing near term unemployment.