ME jobs: UAE tops region with most listed vacancies

The UAE is offering the maximum number of jobs to candidates in the Middle East region. The latest Monster employment index for April 2016, showed the UAE exhibited the most positive employment growth among its neighbouring countries, with hiring activity growing at 18 per cent in April 2016 as compared to the same period a year ago.

Bahrain was second on the list with a modest 5 percent year-on-year growth. While the growth momentum eased further in UAE from 24 percent in March 2016, Bahrain recorded a positive annual growth following negative growth rates since November 2015.

The other GCC members have seen a decline in the number of jobs posted online. Kuwait was (down three percent) and it recorded a negative growth during the stated month.

The index highlights that online hiring in Kuwait grew in double digits from August 2015 until March 2016. In the past three months (between January and March 2016) there has been a 16 percent drop in online opportunities in the country.

Qatar was (down 21 percent) followed by KSA (down 14 percent) exhibited the steepest decline year-on-year decline among all monitored cities.

“For the first time since January 2015, the Monster Employment Index for the Middle East has slipped below the year-ago level. At the same time, e-recruitment activity in April 2016 is 10 percent lower than in March 2016. A recent survey among investment experts suggests uncertainty in the GCC economy, with low oil prices and lower expenditures being the most pressing concerns. The survey further revealed that finance professionals in the GCC will mostly face the brunt. Banks and other financial institutions have already announced job cuts in response to the changed economic reality,” said Sanjay Modi, Managing Director, Monster.com (India, Middle- East, South East Asia and Hong Kong).

But all is not bleak. The index findings reveal that the UAE market specifically is performing well with robust hiring in the healthcare industry. This is the biggest generator of employment opportunities. For the third month in a row, the industry is charting the steepest growth in year-on-year online recruitment activity; up by 45 percent in April 2016.

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