Bayt.com: Earning extra income and learning new skills top two motivators for Middle East freelancers

Bayt.com, the Middle East’s #1 job site, released it’s latest poll, “Part-time Work in the Middle East”, which sheds light on the state of freelancing in the region. The research discloses four key motivations for MENA professionals to take up freelance work options: Earning extra income (38%), learning new skills (29%), freedom to practice what they like (21%), as well as the ability to control their own work schedule (8%).

The poll respondents also pointed out that freelancers are required to possess specific skills to succeed independently. The most commonly sighted skills are: Time management (41%), ability to market themselves (23%), attention to detail (10%), and financial skills (4%).

The poll revealed that professionals find the best aspects of working part-time to be: flexibility (46%), more time to study (23%), more time for family (11%), reduced stress levels and improved health (10), and more time to pursue other interests (6%).

In fact, flexibility is generally a rising trend among the region’s job seekers and working professionals. A large number of MENA professionals (59%) think they would be more productive if their schedules were more flexible. In the context of this research, flexible working encompasses certain working patterns or ways of working, such as flexi-time, working part-time hours, or working from home.

However, part-time work is not free of challenges. The majority of employees are prepared to go along with existing norms for how work is organized. In fact, 80% of MENA professionals would prefer to be employed full-time while only 7% would choose to work part-time if given the choice.

According to the respondents, challenges associated with part-time employment include lack of job security (35%), lack of extra benefits (13%), less pay than full-time jobs (19%) and fewer chances of receiving a promotion (17%).  In fact, 89% of respondents believe that freelancers should have multiple sources of income.

Omar Tahboub, General Manager of Bayt.com, said: “The conversation about how work evolves has often relied on the insights and experiences of employers. Our poll aims to bring out the perspective of the workforce, examining workers’ attitudes and views towards flexibility and alternative work arrangements. The results can help employers better understand all segments of the workforce and tailor to a more diverse pool of talent, attracting and making the best use of this resource. Through our work with 40,000 of the leading employers and over 37 million professionals, we aim to empower the job market with not only advanced recruitment tools, but also with latest and most relevant insights.”