Consumers express confidence in Qatar, UAE employment opportunities
A recent Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) survey, conducted by a jobsite Bayt together with YouGovSiraj – a market research organisation, indicates that Qatar and UAE have topped the list in consumer confidence, as they were considered to have an optimistic macroeconomic outlook and healthy perceptions.
However, the respondents in Qatar and Saudi Arabia did not seem to be satisfied with the current salaries, with only 14% of respondents in Qatar and 13% in Saudi Arabia expressing satisfaction. The CEO of Bayt.com Ravea Ataya said "Although the figures does not seem encouraging, they are still highly valuable, as the survey helped in knowing that consumers are dissatisfied about the fact that their wages do not match with increasing cost of living, and this will help people on the task to set things right."
The survey included a total of 12,518 respondents across the GCC, North Africa and Levant. All the countries agreed to the point that their salaries do not match the high cost of living. 59% of respondents in Qatar expressed happiness about the country's economic prospects, in comparison with 55% in the UAE.
Also 69% of the respondents across the region, were of the opinion that job opportunity would continue to remain the same or will improve further. A maximum of 84% of respondents in Qatar felt that job opportunities are likely to improve in the country.
About 58% in Qatar and 51% in UAE, felt that the business conditions at present were good.
Asians (68%) had the highest confidence levels about their personal financial prospects and 63% mentioned that they foresee economic improvements in their home countries during the coming year. Similarly 62% of GCC nationals expressed confidence and predicted good year ahead for their resident countries.
On the whole, the respondents displayed a boost in confidence level, especially in the employment availability, inflation and business conditions.
Posted on 24/8/2007