Survey results for 2019

How are job seekers actually feeling about their chances of securing a new role, landing a pay rise or learning new skills? How positive do they feel about the economic situation? This is what we set out to discover with our Job Confidence Index, a global measure of how optimistic job applicants are about the current employment market.

The Michael Page Job Confidence Index is a quarterly barometer that measures the perception of candidates about their job situation and the labour market. The data is collected on voluntary basis from candidates who applied for a job offer or submitted their CV on Michael Page.

Middle East: The survey results are based on responses by 4079 candidates based in the Middle East. Salary is still the top reason people are looking for a job. For more information, download the 2020 Salary & Skills Guide. Recruitment firms, professional networking platforms and personal networks are the top 2 most trusted platforms for job search. 51% would like to ideally live and work in the Middle East for more than 8 years. For more insights, click on the infographic. 

Saudi Arabia: The survey results are based on responses by 592 candidates based in Abu Dhabi. 66% of respondents have more than 5 years of experience and 41% hold managerial positions. Career prospects is the top reason people are living and working in the UAE's capital city. 41% would like to live and work in Abu Dhabi for more than 10 years. For more insights, click on the infographic. 

Abu Dhabi: The survey results are based on responses by 592 candidates based in Abu Dhabi. 66% of respondents have more than 5 years of experience and 41% hold managerial positions. Career prospects is the top reason people are living and working in the UAE's capital city. 41% would like to live and work in Abu Dhabi for more than 10 years. For more insights, click on the infographic.

Qatar: The survey results are based on responses by 596 candidates based in Qatar. Top 3 aspects of their job people are most satisfied include their current industry/sector, level of responsibility and work environment. Candidates trust recruitment firms, professional networking platforms and personal networks to assist with their job search. For more insights, click on the infographic. 

Middle East: Our Q3 job market survey has received responses from 507 candidates. 63% are positive about the current job market. Salary still stands as the top reason for employees looking for a new job. Candidates trust professional networking platforms, recruitment firms and personal networks as the top channels to facilitate with their job search. With career prospects, salary and standard of living being the key reasons candidates are working in the Middle East, 36% expect to continue living here for more than 10 years.

Saudi Arabia: Our Q3 job market survey has received responses from 153 candidates based in Saudi Arabia. 62% of our respondents hold Managerial to Director level positions. 71% are positive about the current job market and 83% are positive about the future economic situation. 47% are likely to live in Saudi Arabia for more than 10 years, with salary and career prospects being the main reasons. Out of the many aspects related to their current jobs, candidates are most satisfied with the industry/sector they are working in and their level of responsibility.  

Qatar: Our Q3 job market survey has received responses from 98 candidates based in Qatar. Top reasons people are working in Qatar include the career opportunities, salary and standard of living. Candidates trust recruitment firms most with their job search. 86% expect to be able to find a new job in less than 3 months. 77% would like to live and work in Qatar for up to 10 years. 43% believe that the oil price has a neutral to extremely negative impact on their current situation. 83% think that the future job market situation will get better in the next 6 months. 

Middle East: The survey reveals that 38% of our respondents would like to live and work in the Middle East for more than 10 years. And career opportunities, salary package and standard of living are the primary reasons that people are living and working in the Middle East. Three reasons people are looking for a new job include better salary, opportunities for growth and more responsibility. To find out more, click on the survey infographic.

Saudi Arabia: Our Q2 job market survey shows that 48% of respondents would like to live and work in Saudi Arabia for more than 10 years. Salary and career prospects ranked as the top two reasons people consider work opportunities in the Kingdom. The top three platforms people trust for their job search include recruitment firms, professional networking platforms and personal networks. To find out more, click on the survey infographic.

Qatar: Our Q3 job market survey has received responses from 98 candidates based in Qatar. Top reasons people are working in Qatar include the career opportunities, salary and standard of living. Candidates trust recruitment firms most with their job search. 86% expect to be able to find a new job in less than 3 months. 77% would like to live and work in Qatar for up to 10 years. 43% believe that the oil price has a neutral to extremely negative impact on their current situation. 83% think that the future job market situation will get better in the next 6 months.

Saudi Arabia: Aligned with the key pillars of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 i.e. providing equal opportunities and attracting talent, as a recruitment firm, Michael Page continues to play a crucial role in shaping the talent pool in the Saudi Arabia. In line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the bulk of the hiring is taking place in Financial Services, Property & Construction, Strategy, Project Management Office and Tourism.

Middle East: The survey results highlight that 72% of respondents would like to live and work in the Middle East for more than 5 years. There is more talent on the ground committing their careers and long term future to the region than ever before, so tax free salary is no longer enough to attract and retain the best people. Over and above salary, skilled talent in the region are looking for opportunities that challenge their critical thinking and creativity, flexible work environments to improve work-life balance, mentorship programmes, benefits/rewards for hard work.