Professionals in the Middle East are optimistic about 2020 and confident that this year will bring in significant changes in their career and personal lives.

According to a poll conducted by UAE-based career portal Bayt.com, 85 percent of professionals in MENA region feel confident about 2020 while 70 percent believe this year will bring plenty of changes to their professional and personal life.

The poll titled ‘New Year’s Resolutions in the Middle East and North Africa 2020’ showed that 76 percent of the respondents have made resolutions for 2020.

Sixty five percent of those who made new year’s resolutions in 2019 said they have achieved all or most of them.

The respondents were polled on their work and lifestyle preferences.

While 19 percent of respondents want to become more productive and efficient at work, 17 percent would like to learn new skills, 6 percent would like to build more meaningful relationships, and 56 percent want to improve all the aforementioned categories.

Career development

Career development is top priority for many executives in the MENA region.

While forty-seven percent said they plan to find a new job, 25 percent would like to learn a new skill and 24 percent are aiming for a higher compensation.

“Professionals are in the driver's seat and they expect much more than salary from their workplace. Our poll shows that communication, team dynamics and support from colleagues are increasingly important factors,” Ola Haddad, Director of Human Resources at Bayt.com said.

“To attract and retain talent, employers will need to meet workers' career expectations and provide the perks, work-life balance and career advancement opportunities they demand," Haddad added.

Fifty percent of respondents expect training and learning resources from MENA employers, while 21 percent expect more feedback and support, 15 percent expect more rewards and benefits and 7 percent expect MENA employers to be more flexible with timing.

The vast majority (85 percent) of MENA professionals believe that year-end appraisals at work are helpful.

On a personal level, the most common resolution among poll respondents is to save money (45 percent). Other popular personal goals are exercising and following a healthy diet (17 percent), taking more vacations (9 percent) and spending more time with friends and family (8 percent).

The results of the online poll are based on a sample of 4,732 respondents from the following countries: UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, and Pakistan.

(Writing by Gerard Aoun; editing by Seban Scaria)

(Gerard.Aoun@refinitiv.om)

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© ZAWYA 2020