Most MENA workers want to leave jobs - poll

Workers across MENA are so unhappy in their jobs that they wish to leave immediately, according to a new poll by online job site, Bayt.com.

The poll, entitled Employee Retention in the MENA Workplace revealed that 54.7 percent of respondents said they want to leave their job straight away, with 44.7 percent admitting that fear is a leading factor in guiding their decision to change jobs.

The majority of people questioned said that they stay in jobs no longer than five years, with 70.4 percent leaving before this time, and only 11.7 percent lasting ten or more years.

Money appears to be the driving factor behind many people’s decision to leave their jobs, with 45.2 percent saying that the reason they resigned was that they were not paid enough, and 26.6 percent claiming salary and benefits was the most important factor for employee retention.

On a more positive note for companies, some 41.5 percent of people said they have never changed career, and 36.8 percent declaring that they never want to retire.

Overall, 60.3 percent of respondents said employee retention is lower now compared to previous generations

Suhail Masri, vice president of sales at Bayt.com, said: “With the results of our poll showing that retention levels are now lower than before, companies looking to hold onto their employees should consider introducing more creative and sophisticated compensation and benefits structures to encourage them to stay.”

Countries in the GCC are considered to have highest retention levels in MENA, with 78.8 percent of people believing it to be the best part of the region for holding onto employees.

Other findings by the poll are that the best companies for retention are multinationals, the easiest people to retain are graduates and entry level professionals, and that the department with the highest turnover rate is sales and marketing.