7 out of 10 UAE firms likely to hire

The UAE job market is expected to open up considerably in the next three months, with seven out of 10 companies expecting to create up to 10 new positions. Most of these will be with large or multinational private companies, presenting exciting opportunities for new graduates and first-time employees in particular, reveals a new study by Bayt.com, a job site with YouGov, a research and consulting organisation.

In the next 3 months, 59 per cent of companies across the GCC, North Africa and Levant expect to hire new candidates, with the highest expectancy in the GCC countries. Most of those hires will be made by private sector companies.

In the UAE, 61 per cent of companies claim they will either probably or definitely hire in the coming 3 months. In the next 12 months, 68 per cent of companies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region anticipate that they will hire; the same is true for 67 per cent of UAE-based companies.

For the most part, 69 per cent of companies who are looking to hire will create up to 10 job openings in the next 3 months. This is echoed by companies in the UAE, of whom 65 per cent will hire up to 10 more people in the same time frame. The majority of these jobs in the UAE will be for junior executives (39 per cent), followed by executives (30 per cent) and coordinators (29 per cent). A large number of UAE companies are looking for receptionists (16 per cent), accountants (14 per cent), HR professionals (13 per cent), secretaries (13 per cent), customer service representatives (13 per cent), sales managers (13 per cent) and executive assistants (13 per cent). 

The most desirable qualification to have in the MENA region at present is one in Business Management, according to 23 per cent of survey respondents. Commerce (22 per cent), administration (21 per cent), computer science (21 per cent) and engineering (20 per cent) are also popular. UAE employers are especially keen on candidates with commerce qualifications (24 per cent).

Good communication skills in Arabic and English are a must for 56 per cent of MENA employers. They are also a highly desirable qualification in the UAE, second only to the ability to be a team player who is cooperative, helpful and flexible. Good leadership skills are also of top appeal to 47 per cent of UAE employers.

In terms of experience, UAE employers are looking for candidates with a background in managerial (30 per cent), sales and marketing (30 per cent), and administrative (27 per cent) work. 

Six out of 10 companies across the region claim to have made new hires in the last 6 months, with 43 per cent having taken on new employees in the last 3 months. Two thirds of employers in the UAE (66 per cent) have hired new candidates in the last six months, with 47 per cent having done so in the last 3 months.

Across the MENA region, 41 per cent of jobseekers consider their country to be more attractive, career-wise, than other countries. This is especially true in the GCC, where six in 10 would prefer to stay in their own country rather than move elsewhere, while in North Africa and the Levant, the majority would prefer to look beyond their own country to find employment.

UAE residents are particularly keen on the local job prospects, with 71 per cent stating that the nation is more attractive than other countries.

When it comes to industries, the majority across the region (44 per cent) believe that their current industry is preferable to other industries. Just more than half (53 per cent) in the UAE believe that their current industry is more attractive than any other. In terms of attracting and retaining top talent in the UAE, the construction industry is considered by 41 per cent of surveyed professionals to be the most popular. Tourism and hospitality (38 per cent) and banking and finance (37 per cent) are also perceived as extremely popular with UAE top talent.

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