75% of UAE employers expect to create up to 10 new jobs

According to the latest Bayt.com Middle East Job Index Survey conducted by Bayt.com, the number one job site in the Middle East, and leading research and consulting group, YouGov, approximately 2 out of 5 employers in the UAE will definitely be hiring in the next 3 months.

69% of those surveyed in the UAE believe that their country of residence is more attractive as a job market in comparison to other MENA countries. Moreover, 46% of working respondents in the UAE rate their industry as being more attractive as a potential employer in comparison to other industries.

Hiring expectations

66% of UAE employers will be hiring in the next 3 months, with 43% definitely hiring and 23% probably hiring. According to them, only 3% of UAE companies are definitely not hiring. Moreover, in a year’s time, 31% of UAE current employers state that their companies will definitely be hiring, and 41% will probably be hiring.

75% of those looking to hire candidates in the UAE will be opening up to 10 new positions to potential employees in the next 3 months. The majority of these jobs will be for junior executives (45%) and executives (40%). Only a minority are seeking top-level candidates.

Roles and experience

When looking at specific roles in the UAE, according to working respondents, the most popular candidate positions will be for human resource professionals and executive assistants, both at 21%, followed by sales managers (17%), accountants (15%) and receptionists (14%).

37% of UAE working respondents said that their company is generally seeking candidates with mid-level experience, while almost one third of them said they are looking for candidates with managerial skills. Moreover, 31% are ideally looking for candidates with administrative skills, experience in sales and marketing (27%) and computer skills (25%).

Candidate qualifications and skills

A graduate/post graduate degree in Business Management (35%) is the most sought-after academic qualification when looking for candidates in the UAE. This is followed by a degree in Commerce (25%) and Engineering (24%).

Half of UAE working respondents mentioned their company values candidates who are team players. Good communications skills in Arabic and English (49%) and good leadership skills (47%) are also highly esteemed.

Industries attracting top talent

When asked which industry is attracting top talent in the UAE, 42% of respondents replied the banking and finance industry, followed by oil, gas and petrochemicals (36%) and construction (34%).

“Our goal at Bayt.com is to arm job seekers with the tools needed to thrive in today’s increasingly competitive job market. The Bayt.com Middle East Job Index Survey is a biannual study conducted to gauge perceptions of job availability and hiring in the region, as well as identify the key skill sets and qualifications in the current job market,” said Suhail Al-Masri, Vice President of Sales, Bayt.com. “The survey shows that there is a positive trend in hiring practices in the UAE within the next 3 and 12 months. Results show that employment opportunities will mostly be geared towards the younger generation who are looking for entry-level positions.For them to increase their eligibility, young job seekers need to focus on fine-tuning their communication and leadership skills. Entry-level candidates can also tap into different tools on Bayt.com that are designed to improve their skills and increase their professional knowledge. Bayt.com Specialties is a platform where anyone can ask and answer questions related to their field and professional specialties, and get ranked based on their interactions. Bayt.com Tests is also a great way for younger candidates to test and display their knowledge.” 

“With 66% of UAE working respondents stating that their company is planning to hire within the next 3 months, it is refreshing to see that hiring schemes in the country are on an upward trajectory. And while a majority of these employers will be looking for junior executives and executives, now is the time for fresh graduates and job seekers with little or no experience to hone their skills and apply for the thousands of job vacancies that are advertised daily on leading job sites across the region,” said Elissavet Vraka, Research Manager, YouGov.

Almost 8 out of 10 UAE respondents work in the private sector, with 32% of them working for a multinational company. 12% of respondents in the UAE are unemployed. The most popular industries among UAE respondents are construction (12%), banking and finance (7%) and oil, gas and petrochemicals (7%).

21% of current employees in the UAE hold executive roles with no managerial responsibilities, while 20% are junior managers or team leaders and 17% are in middle management.

Data for the Bayt.com Middle East Job Index Survey was collected online between May 28 and July 14, 2015, with a total of 807 online interviews conducted with respondents from the UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Pakistan.