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29 March 2024

89% of UAE professionals will jump jobs for right opportunity

Published
By Staff

New research from recruiter Robert Walters has revealed that employers are still largely neglecting valuable sources of talent despite the on-going skills shortage.

The study, which surveyed over 600 professionals and hiring managers from a range of disciplines across the UAE, showed that employers continue to ignore large groups of suitable candidates, including people returning to the workforce, international talent and professionals changing careers.

The findings also show that 89 per cent of professionals would consider changing careers for the right opportunity, but 32 per cent of employers have no plan in place to attract them.

Forty per cent of employers would be unlikely to hire those who do not meet their exact recruitment criteria.

The survey revealed that while 34 per cent of professionals have taken a career break and later returned to the workforce, just 13 per cent of employers have a strategy in place to attract these workers.

Jason Grundy, Country Head at Robert Walters Middle East, comments: “In a market where securing top talent is increasingly competitive, employers cannot afford to neglect all sources of talent.”

“Professionals from other disciplines, international workers and those returning to the workforce following a career break are all potential sources of skilled candidates for employers who are prepared to be flexible in their hiring criteria and adapt their recruitment strategy to reach these people.

“Employers that are proactive in exploring new talent pools will be best positioned to hire the markets most in demand candidates in 2016.”

Just four in ten employers have a strategy in place to attract workers who are not actively seeking a new job, despite professionals being overwhelmingly open to being contacted with potential offers of employment.

Ninety-four per cent said they would welcome a referral from a friend or colleague and 91 per cent would be open to being contacted by a recruiter or headhunter.

The least popular means of being contacted among passive candidates was email (42 per cent would not approve of being contacted in this way) and social media (38 per cent would not approve).

Jason Grundy adds: “Employers looking for long term solutions to candidate shortages should consider the core skills essential to a role, rather than necessarily focusing on finding a candidate with specific industry experience.

“By taking on candidates with transferable skills and the aptitude and enthusiasm to learn, employers can bring unique experiences and perspectives into their businesses while simultaneously filling business critical roles.”