GCC job openings likely to increase in 2011
Good opportunities await those looking for employment avenues in local and multinational companies across the region beginning from next year, according to experts at recruitment firms in the UAE. The next year will bring huge job opportunities across sectors, especially at senior levels in companies, they said.
"Based on the pick up that is already apparent in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states led by Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, we do expect 2011 to bring a significant number of job opportunities across the entire region, both among the multinationals which are now seen to go back into growth mode, and among large regional players as they regain confidence and go into development and acquisition mode again," Michael Al Nassir, Partner and Head of Middle East and Africa, Pedersen & Partners, told Emirates Business.
Other recruitment and human resource companies in the country agree that more jobs will be on the horizon next year but that a windfall may still be some way off. "The year 2011 is expected to be stronger in terms of job opportunities across the GCC. However, we can still not talk about 'huge' potential. The markets have not stabilised enough to face exponential growth," said Panos Manolopoulos, Vice-Chairman, Regions, Stanton Chase International.
"Companies are conservatively optimistic in their growth plans. Many have gone through restructuring and are now keen to invest in the senior human capital that will lead their development in the after-crisis era," he added.
Matthew Carter, Managing Director, McArthur Murray, sees normalcy returning to the market and agrees that next year may not see jobs flooding the market. "[In] 2011, we [may] see some normalcy returning to the market with a more stable employment environment. We will not see a 'huge rise' in employment opportunities. It will be more a case of businesses identifying where their requirements lie. Businesses that have reduced their headcount from 2008 to this year, will have a clearer vision of their leadership requirements and human capital needs. As with any market, once the economy stabilises we will see growth in human capital needs as organisations seek to grow again," he said.
"The UAE will remain a focal point in the region for organisations seeking to grow their GCC presence as well as their domestic markets. Wherever organisations have aggressively cut their headcount, you will perhaps see them seeking to hire. There will be a focus on hiring at the leadership level, which could possibly prove to be a challenge after the market correction in 2008-09, especially as the world moves out of recession. I also think we will see a shift towards more focus on Emiratisation in the private sector, which is a positive and necessary change for the UAE," said Carter.
Al Nassir said Dubai would become a very lucrative market for job-seekers in early 2011. "We can expect Dubai to pick up again towards 2010 end and in 2011. This will also boost jobs in other emirates. In 2011, Dubai will again be a contender for the top spot in sectors other than financial services."
Saudi, Qatar take lead
Expatriates are more likely to secure a new job in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia than in any other country in the GCC, according to the latest employment data released yesterday by GulfTalent.com.
The number of expat employees in the KSA rose by an estimated 2.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2009, followed by Qatar with 2.2 per cent increase. Oman also showed a marginal rise, with 0.3 per cent growth.
The results are based on actual staff increases and decreases reported by 11,000 managers across the region, who participated in the survey by GulfTalent.com.
Based on the survey results, Kuwait, UAE and Bahrain saw a drop in the number of expat employees during the fourth quarter, with declines of 2.8 per cent, 4.2 per cent and 7.7 per cent respectively.