Average pay rises in Oman and across the GCC are set to be lower in 2016 than at any time over the past ten years, despite the rising cost of living caused by cuts in government subsidies, according to the latest research released today by online recruitment firm GulfTalent.

“Many professionals in 2016 are likely to face a double-whammy of rising living costs coupled with stagnant wage growth. As a result, real salary increases net of inflation are expected to be significantly lower than in previous years,” the report stated.

One source of comfort for residents is falling rents in parts of the region, in an otherwise inflationary market, the report found.

The research report was based on GulfTalent’s survey of 700 employers and 25,000 professionals across the six GCC states. Drawing on its survey results, the study found that salaries across the GCC are forecast to increase at an average of just 5.2 per cent in 2016, down from 5.7 per cent in the previous year.

Saudi Arabia is expected to top the region’s pay increases, at 5.9 per cent. However, with inflation in the Kingdom forecast at 4.7 per cent in 2016, real pay rises net of inflation will average just 1.2 per cent.

Professionals in the UAE are expected to enjoy the region’s second highest salary increase at 5.3 per cent. Qatar is next with 4.7 per cent, followed closely by Kuwait and Oman at 4.6 and 4.4 per cent respectively.

Bahrain fares the worst among the six GCC states, with the projected salary increase of 3.7 per cent matching the forecast inflation rate exactly, leaving employees with no net increase in their purchasing power.

Recruitment slowdown

In addition to lower pay raises, the study reported a marked slowdown in recruitment activity, with employers much more cautious in adding to their payroll. Much of the recruitment activity is now focused on replacement hiring only.

Sectors that are particularly hit include oil & gas and construction, which depend heavily on government investment. On the other hand, retail has seen limited impact and healthcare is booming, driven by a combination of population growth and regulatory changes making healthcare provision mandatory for employers. 68 percent of healthcare companies surveyed reported an increase in their headcount during 2015.

The study found that, with fewer jobs in the market and candidates seeking stability, employee turnover had fallen in most sectors. It warned, however, that employers failing to meet the pay expectation of their top performers due to financial pressures could risk losing them to competitors.

According to the study, employers currently hiring are having much greater success in securing top candidates than in previous years and some are using this as an opportunity to upgrade their staff.

Some firms are also reporting greater success in attracting nationals, thanks to slower pace of hiring in the public sector. One Saudi employer told GulfTalent interviewers “We always wanted to hire Saudis, but they were not interested before. We are happy that Saudi nationals are now accepting our job offers.”

Job cuts

An increasing number of firms have been reducing headcount, particularly in energy and construction. Overall, 14 percent of surveyed firms in Saudi Arabia reported plans to reduce headcount in 2016, compared with 9 percent in the UAE.

Several executives interviewed by GulfTalent reported that, despite operating below capacity, they were holding on to their specialist talent in the hope that the market will recover later in the year. If the current situation persisted, however, they would have no choice but to make painful cuts, the report quoted.

GulfTalent’s study also noted that, despite a marked slowdown, the situation in Gulf countries remains far more stable than in most other oil-dependent economies. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, all GCC countries are expected to have stable currencies and register a positive economic growth in 2016, with governments using their reserves to maintain critical investments. This is in sharp contrast to Russia where the oil price collapse has already led to severe recession and a 50 per cent plunge in the value of the currency since 2014.

GulfTalent’s report is based on an online survey of 700 employers and 25,000 professionals, as well as 60 interviews with executives and HR professionals, conducted during the period December 2015 to February 2016.

GulfTalent is the leading online recruitment portal in the Middle East, covering all sectors and job categories. GulfTalent’s website is used by over 6 million professionals across the region for finding top career opportunities. It is also the primary online recruitment channel for over 8,000 companies, providing them access to both local and expatriate talent.