Workers in Western countries appear less driven by leadership goals than professionals in emerging economies, according to a new survey by Amrop, a global executive search and leadership consulting firm.
The study, conducted online with 8,000 participants in Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, looked at attitudes toward work, career priorities, and the desire to lead.
The findings suggest that only 42 per cent of respondents in Western countries want to lead or start a business, compared with 65 per cent in Brazil, China, and India.
“The drive and ambition in India, Brazil, and China highlight a contrast with the aging societies in the West,” said Annika Farin, Global Chair at Amrop. She said an ageing demographic in those Western economies, coupled with a shortage of qualified professionals, could have broad economic implications.
Definitions of career success
One of the survey’s key data points is a pronounced difference in attitudes about career success. In India, 84 per cent of respondents view a successful career as essential for a good life, followed by China at 71 per cent and Brazil at 70 per cent. This view is less common in Western Europe, with 43 per cent in Germany, 40 per cent in France, and 37 per cent in Poland saying career success is a priority.
Survey participants also revealed variations in attitudes toward work hours. Almost half of respondents in China (46 per cent) and India (42 per cent) indicated they are willing to work more than 40 hours a week, compared with only 29 per cent in the United Kingdom, 27 per cent in Germany, and 16 per cent in France. Farin said this raises questions about the link between time on the job and feeling satisfied, noting that in the study, those working longer hours often reported a stronger sense of work-life balance.
Who will shape future economies, societies?
A gap in leadership ambition was evident outside corporate settings as well. Political leadership ranked lowest in desirability, with only 19 per cent of respondents expressing any political career aspirations.
“If most professionals lack ambition for high-level leadership, who will shape the future of economies and societies?” said Farin.
The survey was conducted among adults aged 20 to 60, grouped by generation and all possessing at least a bachelor’s degree. Respondents were drawn equally from Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the goal of gathering perspectives across different global regions.
Amrop, established in 1977, offers executive search and leadership advisory services around the world, operating across Asia, EMEA, and the Americas.