Job Situation in the recession

April 2009
Objective

• To understand how the current recession is affecting people’s professional and to an extent
financial aspect of their personal lives.

• The survey aims to provide some kind of clarity to job seekers and employers in the current
scenario. It is by no means meant to provide information from an economic angle but rather from
an HR point of view.
Demographic Background & Methodology

Age and Gender

Adult males and females
Aged 21+ years

Nationalities
GCC Arabs, North Africans, Levant, Western Expats, Asians & Others

Country of Residence
GCC: UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Oman*, Qatar, Bahrain*
Levant: Lebanon*, Syria*, Jordan
North Africa: Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia*
Subcontinent: Pakistan
*low sample

Methodology
Online data collection was done between 17th March to 6th April 2009. The total number of
respondents achieved was 10,781.
RESPONDENT PROFILE
Respondent profile – Country

Nationality

Other, 6 Gulf, 1

North
African, 37

Asian, 39

Country of Residence
20
18
Levant, 13 17
Westerner,
4 13

6
5 4 4
3 3
1 1 1 1 1

E
t
ia

an
in

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an

an
n

co

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er

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rd

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a

ni
Eg
lg

ba
ah

Q
O

O
ki

iA
Jo

Tu
or
K
A

Pa
B

Le

Sa

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

Respondent profile - Personal

Age
25
Below 30
41 Monthly Personal Income
30 to 39
1 4 Under $500
40 and Above 10 25 $501 to $1000
2 $1001 to $2000
34
7 $2001 to $3000
$3001 to $5000
$5001 to $10000
10
Gender $10001 or more
16
Prefer not to say
16 Male 10 No personal income
15 Don’t know/Can’t say
Female

84

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

 Respondent profile - Professional

Working Status
5 1

CEO/ President/ Chairman/ Working full time (30 or more

Level of Seniority hours per week)
Owner/Self employed
2 Director or Senior Manager
14 9 Working part time (8 to 29 hours
Professional per week)
5
Middle manager Working part time (Less than 8
21 hours a week)
94
13 Junior manager/ team leader

Executive with no managerial

responsibilities 2 Sector
18 16 Clerical 14
Private sector - MNC

Other 34 Private sector - Large Local

company
12 Private sector - Small/Medium
Local company
Private sector – Other

Public sector or semi govt or

16
charity
22 Other

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

 B
an Con
ki s
ng tru
In Oth / F cti
O d u er in on
il, st p
r r an

12
G ia iv ce
as l a
m te

8
&
Te P an se IT
e u c

8
Ed leco tro fac to

6
uc m c h tu r r
at mu em i n
g
M C ion n ic i ca
on / a ls
ed

5 5
s u Ac ti o
ic m a d ns
al e e

5
/
To He El r G mi

4
u r al ec oo a
H i s th tro d s
os m S n
pi / H er ic s
ta G

3 3
os vic
lit o B A e
Respondent profile - Professional

y v us dv pita s
/ R er i n
ec n m es Au e rt lity 3 3
R re en s c to i si
ea at t o m ng
lE io / C n s ot
st n iv u iv
/ E il lta e
2 2

at
e Ph nt se nc
/P a r e r t rv i y
ro m ain ce
pe ac m
rt eu e
y ti nt
D
ev P ca l
el ow s
2 2 2 2

Tr op e
an
sp m r
A or R ent
gr t e
ic
u l A / Tr tai l
tu er av
re os e
2 2 2 2

/F p l
M or ace
ar es
ke
tr
tR y
M M es a L
O ilita as ea w
th r s rc
er y M h
p / e
1 1 1 1

Pu u b Def d ia
bl lic e n
ic s se
N R ec
on el to
e at r
io
of
th W ns
1 1 1 1

e at
ab er
1

ov
e
8

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

Are people secure?

• On the whole, 65% worried to varying extents.

• UAE has the most serious job concerns with close to a quarter very worried.

Q: How worried are you about the situation of your current job?

9 4 6 3 6 9 10 6 7 5 2 3
Total 11 9
13 10
12 16 15 10 14 14 23
6 13 19 16
15 8 15
13 14 18 13
16 30 12 23
22
34 31 32
26 34 36
31 35
34 33
31 29
18
40 39 42 40
34 33 31 34
27 27 25 23
31

Tu a
Jo t

E
ia

in

Le ait
an

an
n

co

a
u d tar
yp

bi

A
si
no
er

ra

uw

st
oc
rd

ra

U
Sa Qa

ni
Eg
lg

ba
ah

ki

iA
or
K
A

Pa
B

Not at all / Not so worried A little worried Worried Very worried Don’t know/Can’t say
Base: Total Working Sample : 10781
Are companies secure?

• Majority believe companies are quite resilient and will be able to survive the current
economic downturn.
• UAE again amongst the most worried with Morocco bagging second place.

Q: How worried are you about the survival of your company?

6 6 4 9 5 3
Total 10 8 11 13 9 6 3 6
9 11
12 10 4 8 12 12
11 13 16
7 8 8
15 12 16
9 16 15 14
12 21
11 18
27 23 28
20
23 27 22 21
43 23
28 25
13
61
51 51 53 49
46 43 42 45 45
32 34

25

Tu a

E
Jo t
ia

in

t
an

an

a
n

co

u d tar
yp

ai

bi

A
si
no
er

ra

uw

st
oc
rd

ra

U
Sa Qa

ni
Eg
lg

ah

ba

ki

iA
or
K
A

Pa
B

Le

Not at all / Not so worried A little worried Worried Very worried Don’t know/Can’t say
Base: Total Working Sample : 10781
Job cuts in current company

• At an overall level, there are slightly more companies who have had to fire staff than those
who have managed to retain staff thus far.
• UAE understandably shaken with the highest number of companies witnessing job cuts.
Kuwait and Morocco are also feeling the impact of the recession only marginally less than
the UAE.

Q: Have there been any job cuts in your company?

Total 12
11 15 10
17 20 19 22 18
27 25 28
18
32
35 33
54 44 36 45 55
47
43 40 39
50

57
50 48
38 43
33 35 33 33 37 35
25
40

Tu a
Jo t

E
ia

in

Le ait
an

an
n

co

a
u d tar
yp

bi

A
si
no
er

ra

uw

st
oc
rd

ra

U
Sa Q a

ni
Eg
lg

ba
ah

ki

iA
or
K
A

Pa
B

Yes No Not sure/don’t know/can’t say

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781
Number of jobs lost

• Amongst those who have said there were job cuts in their company, 21% witnessed over 100
job cuts.

Q: Have there been any job cuts in your company? Q: How many employees of your company have lost their jobs?
12
18

43 39
21

10
40
18

Less than 20 20 to 50
Yes No Not sure/don’t know/can’t say 51 to 100 Over 100
Don’t know/Can’t say

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781 Base: Those who said there are job cuts in their company :4595
Steps taken by companies to combat the situation

• Top steps taken by companies to survive in the current scenario were placing a freeze on
new hires, cut bonuses of existing staff and an attempt to cut down on expenses and
benefits.

Q: Has your company taken any of the following steps in the last 9 months? Please select all that apply.
38

27
26

20
17
15
14 14
12
9
6
5

Placed a Cut Cut other Cut other Cut travel Cut salaries Cut training Cut Cut salaries Cut medical Cut housing None of
hiring bonuses for expenses benefits expenses for existing budgets marketing for new insurance allowances these
freeze on all existing staff and staff
new hires staff advertising
expenses
Base: Total Working Sample : 10781
Expected job cuts in current company

• Overall, there seem to be far more people who are expecting job cuts than those who aren’t.
• UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain & Qatar are the most worried about the current situation and expecting
to see the highest number of job redundancies.

Q: Do you expect any job cuts in your company in the future?

Total
35 30 33 32 33 32 32 30 32
40 40 37

33 24 20 15
31 33 30 20 28
40 23 39
40 36

46 48 52
38 43 39
36 35 37
25 30
24

27

Tu a
Jo t

E
ia

in

Le ait
an

an
n

co

a
u d tar
yp

bi

A
si
no
er

ra

uw

st
oc
rd

ra

U
Sa Qa

ni
Eg
lg

ba
ah

ki

iA
or
K
A

Pa
B

Yes No Not sure/don’t know/can’t say

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781
 Number of jobs expected to be lost

• 40% believe there are still more redundancies expected to be announced in their companies.

Q: Do you expect any job cuts in your company in the future? Q: How many employees of your company do you expect will lose their jobs?

33 23

40 32

18

18
9
27
Less than 20 20 to 50
Yes No Not sure/don’t know/can’t say
51 to 100 Over 100
Don’t know/Can’t say

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781 Base: Base: Those who expect any job cuts in their company in
the future :4365
 Current Hiring

• Although most companies who have cut jobs or are expected to cut jobs haven’t taken on
any new staff, there are quite a few companies who have hired a few additional staff seeming
to indicate that they have used the crunch to cut non productive members of staff and rehire
more prudently for a few positions.

Q: Is your company currently hiring new staff?

Have there been any job cuts in your Do you expect any job cuts in your
Is your company currently hiring new staff?
company? company in the future?

Not Not
sure/don’t sure/don’t
Total Yes No Yes No
know/can’t know/can’t
say say

Yes, but only for a very small number of positions (less

31 29 34 31 29 35 31
than 10% of current staff strength)

Yes, for quite a few positions (10% to 20% of current staff

9 6 11 7 6 13 9
strength)

Yes, for many positions (more than 20% of current staff

4 2 5 4 2 6 4
strength)

No, we are not hiring any new staff currently 43 53 38 33 55 33 37

Don’t know/can’t say 13 9 12 26 8 13 19

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

Hiring in 2009

• Slightly over half the respondents are either unsure of whether their companies will be hiring
or feel they will not be doing so.
• 33% feel their companies will open up a few positions indicating that although hiring is slow,
there are a few vacancies available.

Q: Do you expect your company will be hiring in 2009?

33
29

24

11

Yes, but very Yes, quite a few new Yes, many people No, we will not be Don’t know/can’t say
sparsely (less than people (10% to 20% (more than 20% of hiring any new staff
10% of current staff of current staff current staff in 2009
strength) strength) strength)
Base: Total Working Sample : 10781
Ripple Effect
• Overall, almost 6 in 10 people know of someone who has lost their job due to the recession.
• In the UAE, this figure is the highest at over three quarters of the respondents – clearly
fuelling the worry.

Q: Apart from your current work colleagues, do you personally know any others who have lost their
jobs in the last few months like your friends, neighbors, ex colleagues, relatives?

Total 8 8
17 14 16 18 19
32 22 24 26 24
15
17 29 21
25 23
26
25 26 39
31 25
31

76
63 65 61
24 59 57 52 56
45 49 49 43
38

Tu a
Jo t

E
ia

in

Le ait
an

an
n

co

a
u d tar
yp

bi

A
si
no
er

ra

uw

st
oc
rd

ra

U
Sa Qa

ni
Eg
lg

ba
ah

ki

iA
or
K
A

Pa
B

Yes No Don’t know/can’t say

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781
Ripple Effect

• Even amongst those who had not witnessed any job cuts in their own companies, close to
half (48%) knew someone externally (out of their workplace) who had lost their job.

Q: Apart from your current work colleagues, do you personally know any others who have lost their jobs in
the last few months like your friends, neighbors, ex colleagues, relatives?
Know someone who’ve lost jobs

11 17
14 34

35
20

75

48 46

Yes No Not sure/don’t

know/can’t say
Job cuts in current company

Yes No Don’t know/can’t say

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

How many people do you know who’ve lost jobs?

• Majority know less than 5 people who have lost jobs.

Q: Among those you know personally, how many people have lost their jobs in the past 9 months?

6 Total
4
3
5

44
10

29

Less than 5 5 to 10
11 to 25 26 to 50
51 to 100 More than 100
Don’t know/can’t say

Base: Those who personally know someone who lost their job : 6363
Ability to find a job after being made redundant.

• 43% of those who know people who’ve lost jobs say at least some haven’t managed to find
work.

Q: Have they been able to find jobs?( Please select all that apply)

33
31

24

11 10 10 10
7

Yes, some of Yes, some of Yes, some of Yes, some of Yes, some of No, some of No, all of Don’t
them did find them did find them found them found them found them have those whom I know/can’t
jobs but they jobs but it jobs but they jobs but they jobs without not yet found know haven’t say
had to took a had to leave had to leave much jobs been able to
change their relatively the city they the country difficulty find jobs
line of work long time (1 were residing they were
to 3 months) in residing in
Base: Those who personally know someone who lost their job : 6363
Time period taken to find alternative work

• For those lucky enough to find jobs in the current scenario after being laid off from their
previous jobs, the average duration has been between 1 and 3 months for the majority which
is not too bad.

Q: How long has it taken them to find jobs? If there are different time periods for each of those you know,
please select an average time period

26
25

13
12
9

5 5
3 3

Less than a 1 to 2 2 to 3 3 to 4 4 to 5 5 to 6 6 to 9 More than Don’t

month months months months months months months 9 months know/can’t
say/NA
Base: Aware of the present status of people they personally know to have lost jobs: 5098
Duration of stay without a job

• If jobs are lost, 43% of people would not stay in their country of residence for more than 3
months. This on its own is quite alarming. Luckily figures seem to indicate most have been
able to find alternative work in 1 to 3 months (see previous chart).
• Due to the cost of living, Bahrain (60%) and UAE (59%) will be the worst hit by the exodus
out of the country.

Q: If, unfortunately, you were to lose your job or your business, how long do you expect to stay in your
present country of residence till you find an alternative employment or business opportunity?

19 19 16
Total 22 25 27 20
29 26 28
35 33 4
3 8 4 5
7 5 8
3 7 6 6 7
24 12 17 17
8 10 12 9
27 9 17 21 10
9 5 7
13
21 20
43 16 25 14 17
13
60 59
7 51 48
45
34 37 37 34 36
31 31
7

Tu a
Jo t

E
19
ia

in

Le ait
an

an
n

co

a
u d tar
yp

bi

A
si
no
er

ra

uw

oc

st
rd

ra

U
Sa Qa

ni
Eg
lg

ba
ah

ki

iA
or
K
A

Pa
B

Less than 3 months 3 to 6 months 6 to 12 months More than a year Don’t know/can’t say

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

Potential alternatives to job loss

• More than half would attempt to find a job in the same country in the same industry. The
scenario however clearly indicates that they would also keep their other options open.

Q: In case of your job loss, which of the following would be your potential alternatives? Please select all
that apply:

52

30
27

16
13 12
10
5

Find another Move to Switch Move to a Return to Open my own Start a Don’t
job in same another industries in different home country business in consultancy know/can’t
industry in country in same country region as an same country in same say
same country the region as expat country
an expat
Base: Total Working Sample : 10781
Savings to survive a rainy day

• Lebanon, Morocco and Jordan will be most hit if there are many job losses as close to half
do not have any savings to back them up.

Q: Have you been able to save money through your past employment in this country which you are currently residing in?

2 5 4 3 4 3 4 2
9 10 7 10
Total
5 8 27 21
20 31 31 32 34
36 25
48
47 48
31
23 32 36 23
32 35
40 24 37 37

20 27
26
30 30
27
26 26
23 18 22
24 17 19 14
12 9 9 9 14 12
2 6 7 3 5 5
32

Tu a

E
Jo t
ia

in

Le ait
an

an
n

co

a
u d tar
yp

bi

A
si
no
er

ra

uw

oc

st
rd

ra

U
Sa Qa

ni
Eg
lg

ah

ba

ki

iA
or
K
A

Pa
B

Yes, a good amount Yes, a fair amount Yes but very little No savings Don’t know/can’t say
Base: Total Working Sample : 10781
Duration of savings sustaining

• 53% would only be able to survive for a maximum of 6 months should they be out of a job.
• In the UAE (62%), Bahrain (60%) & Kuwait (59%), this figure is slightly higher.

Q: How long do you anticipate your savings can sustain you if necessary in case of a job loss or such situations?

Total
22

3
53
6

17

Less than 6 months 6 months to 1 year

1 to 3 years More than 3 years
Don’t know/can’t say

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

Country of residence attractiveness

• Qatar & KSA strongly believe their countries are still very attractive.
• Egypt, Jordan & Pakistan are almost equally polarised in their opinions of their country.

Q: Is your country of residence still a lucrative and attractive place to live and work?

10 5 7 8 7 6 7 7 6 8
Total 7 15 4 12
6 8 4
10 15 9 11 9
8 13 12 12 10
18 9
12 18
10 26 24 9 12 15 14 22
18 21 28
17
25 19 20 17 11
26 23
16 20 24 12
27 18 24
18 26 22
20 19
19 18
41 39 40
25 26 22 28 22 25 26
21 18 17
16

Tu a
Jo t

E
ia

in

Le ait
an

an
n

co

a
u d tar
yp

bi

A
si
no
er

ra

uw

st
oc
rd

ra

U
Sa Q a

ni
Eg
lg

ba
ah

ki

iA
or
K
A

Pa
B

Yes, still very attractive Yes, a little attractive It is the same / no change
No, not so attractive now No, not at all attractive now Don’t know/can’t say

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

Anticipated job market improvements

• Qatar was most optimistic it will recover in a very short while (up to 12 months timeframe).
• Clearly residents of the UAE showed a strong faith in their country– whilst some felt it may
take time for the economy to rebound, the fewest number of people (18%) felt they were
unsure of when it would turnaround.

Q: When do you anticipate the regional job market will improve in your industry?

18
Total 24 25 27 26
34
40 41 37
50 49 46 12
10
12 10 5 9
15 22
31 12 17 18 8 15
21 15 14
11 12
16 15 16 21
12 16 23 8
21 25 16 26
6 10
16 11
10 17 13 20
11 11 14
19 8 13 11 13
11 10 8 7 20
11 11 15 12 13
9 7 6 8 7 9
12 3

Tu a
Jo t

E
16
ia

in

Le ait
an

an
n

co

a
u d tar
yp

bi

A
si
no
er

ra

uw

st
oc
rd

ra

U
Sa Q a

ni
Eg
lg

ba
ah

ki

iA
or
K
A

Pa
B

In less than 3 months In 3 to 6 months In 6 to 12 months

In 12 to 24 months More than 2 years Don't know/Can't say

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

Anticipated job market improvements – by industry

Q: When do you anticipate the regional job market will improve in your industry?

14 19 20
25 22 26 25 22 24 26 26
41 34 33 31 34 27 36 32 34 32 37 30 31 31 28
43 39 43 45 16 11 39
11 11 6 14
13 11 17 9
10 11 20 26 10 10 16 12 13
15 16 19 20 11 9 11 11 19
15 19 18 21 18 11 12 29 12
18 15 20 19 14 14 14 15 12 18 18 14 16
21 18
22 28 20 16 17 27 12
9 12 9 14 11 19 15 21 23 19
25 23 26 10 20 20 17
8 19 9
22 12 20 17 13 25 18
10 15 12 11 16 14 12 12
15 15 10 15 20
10 11 6 12 11 12 11 15 9 4 13 12 16 7 19 18
11 13 11 5 20 9 12 12 10 11
12 14 13 11 10 6 8 15 7 11 8 10 10 6 14 6 6
15 13 9 10 11
8 6 6
13 13 11 9 7
d u n iv ro i a

g
tu t
at me c y

Tr ity
or pit s
rt ic Po ls
i n in om try

C Co sul ce

Ph u b se ls
re n E ca d d s
co in e

op ns
re s g

B an Au ore e

/ H M se w
n G n

er
ria nt e s

e u tor
th iv m e

Tr m / n ic tai l
u r m R ent
er oc efe s

ev a r
& ary er ia
ac en

IT
an tain ce

m se r
M h

W l
uc s u tru nc

ri n

sp os on
D Rel we
s / F tiv

e
In tio / C e ct em
c
tu ro in

io r tio

O pr he ns

ar c to
st / E il s nic

a
e a
e a ss a rc

at
t / al
as ilit h S ed
n an

av
/ F pa

el tio
/ A oo
us k t s

O Pe / D vic
l m e r rv i

er at i c

tic
uf m

ac c
u l Ae rti s

Ed on ns ta

e
c

m
o

an H ti a
e

p e
dv

i
R

is u
a
a t l
es g
A

et

lt

th tr

p e bl

To co m
k
ar

ro Pu

y
M

M
ic

le
ec m
gr

al

Te
ic
/ R rn
A

G
ed

/P
y ve

il,
M
lit o

e
ta G

at
st
lE
ea
pi

R
os
H

In less than 3 months In 3 to 6 months In 6 to 12 months

In 12 to 24 months More than 2 years Don't know/Can't say

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

 •
Construction

42
Banking / Finance

40
Real Estate /

33
affected.
Tourism / Hospitality

28
Automotive

24
Industrial
Advertising
Consumer Goods

19 18 18
Electronics
IT
Oil, Gas &
Transport / Travel
Other private sector

17 17 17 17 16
Industries most adversely affected

Business
Hospitality /
Telecommunications 15 15 14
Retail
12

Agriculture /
Power
10 10 9

Aerospace
Domestic Services
Education /
Government / Civil
Market Research
Mass Media
Medical / Health
Other public sector
8 8 8 8 7 7 7 7

Pharmaceuticals
adversely affected in your country? (Please select all that apply)

Public Relations
Water
Charity / voluntary
6 6 5 5

Publishing
Law
4 3

Military/ Defense
8

None of the above/

Construction, Banking / Finance & Real estate / property are seen to be the most adversely

Q: Please indicate which of the following industries in your opinion have been the most

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

COR confidence at a regional level

• Pakistan and Egypt are by far the most negative about the state of economical
competitiveness when compared at a regional level.
• Qatar very positive about their ability to beat the odds regionally.

Q: How do you feel your country is faring economically relative to other countries in the region?

15 13 11 13 12 13 10 12
Total 20 18 17
26
14 13 15 4
13 24
14
17
41 37 43
29 31 20 22 28
25 26
40
36 32
20 31
33 27 29
27 52 51
47 49
35 30 32
28 24
16 19 16

30

Tu a
Jo t

E
ia

Le ait
in

an

an

a
n

co

u d tar
yp

bi

A
si
no
er

ra

uw

st
oc

ra
rd

U
S a Qa

ni
Eg
lg

ah

ba

ki

iA
or
K
A

Pa
B

Better Same Worse Don't know / Can't say

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

COR confidence outside the regional level

• Egypt, Algeria & Pakistan don’t think they are performing well economically compared to
countries outside the region.
• Qatar, KSA & Bahrain very positive about their comparative performance.

Q: How do you feel your country is faring economically relative to other countries outside the region?

Total 19 15 14 20 18 17 15
21 16
24 22
28
18 19 14 18
25 15 16 20

34 35 43
53 32 24 24
47 23
30 27 31
16
22
28 25
43 17 45 44
31 21 36 37 32
29
22
26 15 12 14
8

Tu a
Jo t

E
ia

in

Le ait
an

an
n

co

a
u d tar
yp

bi

A
si
no
er

ra

uw

oc

st
rd

ra

U
a

ni
Eg
lg

ba
ah

Q
ki

iA
or
K
A

Pa
B

Sa
Better Same Worse Don't know / Can't say

Base: Total Working Sample : 10781

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