The Bayt.com ‘Millennials in the Mena’ survey, recently conducted by the popular regional job site, and YouGov Siraj, a research and consulting organisation, revealed that roughly six in 10 Qatar respondents are currently employed in large private multinational or local companies (64% of those under 35; 67% of those 35 and up), while the preference for those under 35 is to work in the public sector.

This is because of the perception of more attractive salaries (51%). A third of those aged 35 and above are content in their current industry, though 35% would prefer to work in the public sector, because of the more challenging work (41%) and more opportunities to learn on the job (41%). 

A third of Qatar respondents (32% of those under 35; 33% of those 35 and up) got their current job through a referral. The majority (29%) under the age of 35 are currently in their third job, while those aged 35 and up claim to have had more than five jobs (30%).

For the most part, Qatar millennials can only see themselves working with their current organisation for the next 1-2 years, though those over 35 will stay 3-5 years.

Roughly half of all respondents stated that the factor that would encourage them to be more loyal to their company is a good work-life balance. Respondents in both age categories would like to see higher salaries.

Seven out of 10 Qatar respondents would consider relocating to another country in order to pursue their goals and career prospects (77% of those under 35; 68% of those 35 and up). Half of all respondents are willing to sacrifice their personal life to further their career to some extent; almost third are willing to do so to a large extent (35% of those under 35; 21% of those 35 and up).

A larger number of respondents below the age of 35 (66%) would prefer to have their own business rather than being employed; 77% of respondents aged 35 and up would consider entrepreneurship. 

Younger respondents would like to retire earlier than those aged 35 and above, with 22% hoping to retire before they turn 50.

Half of the millennials surveyed want to retire between 50-60 years (47%), with 30% looking to retire after they turn 60.

For the respondents aged 35 and up, the majority (51%) are looking to retire after their 60th birthday, though 26% want to retire between 55-60. A further 13% want to retire between 50-55, with 9% considering doing so before then.

In Qatar, 89% of respondents age 35 and over are the chief wage earner in their family, with 66% of those under 35 maintaining the same role.

Though the majority are independent, roughly a third of all Qatar respondents say that they rely, to some extent, on money from their family as supplementary income.

Nine out of 10 respondents are currently on a fixed monthly income, which is the preferred method of payment.

A quarter of Qatar professionals under 35 currently work overtime with monetary compensation, as do 34% of those over 35 – though 22% of the younger generation work overtime without any compensation.

Personal income allows the majority of Qatar respondents to live comfortably, according to 45% of those aged below 35 and 64% of those aged 35 and up. However, for a quarter of respondents (26% of those under 35; 13% of those 35 and up) their present income allows them to only just get by, and a further quarter of younger respondents find it difficult to meet their expenses with their current pay.

When asked what attributes they associate with their older colleagues and supervisors, respondents below 35 years of age chose hardworking (51%), willing to teach (41%), and understanding (34%). In terms of their perception of their millennial colleagues, respondents aged 35 and up believe that are hardworking (62%), they bring innovative ideas to the table (41%) and they are willing to teach (38%).

Data for the Bayt.com ‘Millennials in the Mena’ poll was collected online from December 18, 2013 to January 6, 2014, with 7,173 respondents from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.