+44-7897-074717Hwee Ling Lim, Lyas Al Tayeb Ait Tayeb, Mohamed Abdulrahman Othman
The Saudi Arabia population demographics heralded the coming of the Big Crew Change with the retirement of Generation X workers and the entry of a large Generation Y (Gen Y) segment. However, little is known about Gen Y professionals in the Middle-East since research on Gen Y had largely been conducted outside the region. This study examined the life priorities and work preferences of Gen Y engineering and business professionals in Saudi Arabia. A sample was obtained from a major company in Dhahran. The participants surveyed were Gen Y engineering and business professionals and mainly male Saudis. The Schwartz Value Inventory and Twenge et al.’s (2010) motivational model were used to measure the importance of life values and work preferences respectively. The results showed that Saudi Gen Y regarded Security, Tradition, Conformity, Universalism, and Benevolence as most important life values. To attain these life goals, respondents were most motivated by intrinsic and extrinsic work motivators. Consistent with findings, the Gen Y respondents provided suggestions for the effective recruitment and retention of Gen Y professionals based on their need for intrinsic and extrinsic work motivators.
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