Qatari nationals boast the highest employee engagement level of 51% amongst nationals across the GCC region and also lower levels of attrition risk at 16% compared to the GCC average of 20%.

The overall employment engagement (both nationals and expatriates) in Qatar is the second highest amongst GCC countries, according to research by Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc.

According to the study, Qatari nationals report high levels of satisfaction with key aspects of their work life. While 82% feel they have a sense of accomplishment and meaning in the workplace, 83% believe they are trusted and respected at work.

In addition, 63% Qataris believe that they are learning and developing their skills and capabilities in their current jobs.

The findings come from Aon Hewitt’s latest Qudurat study, a  research initiative focused on understanding what drives and motivates talent in the region, with an emphasis on understanding national talent.

The research includes participation from more than 100 public and private institutions including Gulf Air, Emirates NBD, Alghanim Industries and Dolphin Energy.

The study also highlights some areas of improvement. Growth opportunities tend to be an area of dissatisfaction for Qatari nationals, with only one out of 10 employees reporting that they are being promoted fast enough.

The level of support received from their managers can also be seen as a key area for improvement with only 33.4% stating satisfaction.

Further findings from the report highlight that young Qatari nationals have very distinct workplace preferences. They have strong faith in their abilities and believe that their work makes the country a better
place.

The report shows that pay and benefits are not the top most priority; rather, they feel that interesting and meaningful work is of higher importance. They also demonstrate a strong desire to achieve high level managerial positions as quickly as possible with 72% of Qatari youth regarding their current role as a step to their next job.

Dr Markus Wiesner, CEO, Aon Hewitt Middle East, said young Qatari nationals are clearly emerging as a unique demographic group with varying preferences and expectations to their older counterparts.

“Whilst pay and benefits will obviously help attract young talent, organisations will need to place greater emphasis on all aspects of the employee life cycle including meaningful roles, learning and career development,” he stated.

Aon Hewitt has been conducting the Qudurat survey since 2010, on the basis that only by gaining in-depth knowledge of the individual capabilities and motivational drivers that determine the performance and productivity of the region’s workforce, can a true understanding of the talent landscape be gained.

The survey is part of Aon Hewitt’s suite of evidence-based, research-led studies including the Salary Increase Survey, Best Employers Middle East, Total Compensation Measurement, and People Risk Index.

A precis of the Qudurat survey’s main findings can be downloaded from: http://www.aon.com/middle-east/thought-leadership/hr/qudurat-research-report.jsp