Nearly half, or 47% of candidates in the Middle East are looking for a job for a better salary package, according to a barometer from Michael Page.

The survey showed also showed that 42% of candidates are motivated to seek another job as their current role isn’t offering opportunities for further development. Looking for their responsibilities to broaden, better work-life balance and a different company culture are other reasons motivating people to apply for new jobs.

The ‘Michael Page Job Confidence Index’ is a quarterly barometer that measures the perception of candidates about their job situation and the labour market. The data is collected on voluntary basis from candidates who applied for a job offer or submitted their CV on Michael Page.

The barometer also found that the top channels people trust with their job search include professional networking platforms, recruitment firms and personal networks, with 83% thinking that less than three months is required to find a new job

Meanwhile, the top reasons people are living and working in the Middle East include career opportunities, salary package and standard of living, and 36% expect to live in the region for more than ten years, according to Michael Page.

“Whereas previously a salary increase when changing jobs was expected to be around 10–15% (sometimes more in certain sectors), candidates are now wanting more detail about career development plans and organisation culture, which also includes an approach to maintaining a flexible work environment,” Leith Ramsay, Managing Director, Michael Page Middle East, said.