Are expenses making you stay in your job?

As living costs continue to rise, many UAE employees are choosing stability over career advancement, with financial pressures making job changes feel increasingly risky.

- Nandini Sircar

A recent US survey by MyPerfectResume, found that nearly 69 per cent of respondents said financial pressure influences their decision to stay in their current role.

HR professionals and employees in the UAE say the trend resonates strongly with the realities of life in the Emirates, where a job often represents far more than a monthly salary.

For Mihai Rusu (name changed), a Moldovan sales executive in Dubai, financial considerations play a significant role in his decision to stay put. While he values his work and job security, he says everyday expenses are becoming harder to ignore.

“Financial pressure is a major reason why I stay in my current job. The cost of living has gone up noticeably over the past few years, while salaries and allowances have not always kept pace,” he said.

He noted that many expatriates are working harder simply to maintain their current lifestyle and believes stronger housing and transport support would help ease employee concerns.

Wasim Ahmed, who works in the media, echoed similar concerns, although he stressed that passion for work remains important.