Salary hike outlook good for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Lebanon, new study reveals

  DUBAI - Workers in the Middle East can expect a wage increase by an average of 4.6 percent next year, latest research showed. Laurent Leclere, senior consultant and data services lead for the Middle East at Willis Towers Watson, said that compensation remains the "top-most-factor" that drives employee performances. Willis Towers Watson released the findings of its "General Industry Compensation Survey", which includes actual and target amounts paid for all employee salaries, allowances and bonuses. The report also suggests that pay growth could be greater for certain skilled jobs with a smaller talent pool like digital professionals. The decline of oil prices have cast a cloud of uncertainty over employment in the UAE. The report noted that the salary increase is also expected in Bahrain. It also noted that employees working in Lebanon will most likely enjoy the highest growth at 5.4 percent. This is followed by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait at 5 percent and Qatar at 4.8 percent. The report was based on a survey conducted in February and March earlier this year. It drew 6.500 sets of responses from companies across 100 countries worldwide.  CLM/Expat Media