Jobs in UAE: Hospitality boom sparks hiring

If you are looking to land a job in the UAE, hospitality is one sector you should definitely consider. Post-recession, the sector is booming with several new hotels already opened or due to be available for public use soon.

Name any major hotel chain in the UAE or the region, and you will be surprised if they are not in the hiring mode. In fact the number of job vacancies in the Gulf’s hospitality sector more than tripled from 18,000 in 2009 to 61,000 in 2013, according to a new Hospitality Employment report published today by Catererglobal.com, a hospitality recruitment website.

The report found that job vacancies have increased by over 25 per cent since 2012 but the impact of this has not all been positive, as HR managers are struggling to fill many of these positions with quality candidates that have the required skills.

“As with many other industries, the region’s hospitality sector was negatively impacted by the global recession but it is clear that the industry has more than started to recover,” said Pete Willis, Director for Middle East at Catererglobal.com.

“However, what is also clear is that the battle for talent has intensified and, to sustain this growth, employers have to work hard to attract new recruits, both locally and from outside of the region, that have the appropriate skills,” he added.

Other findings from the report include the significant rise in applications for vacancies, across most parts of the sector, but particularly in management posts which have now become exceptionally competitive.

Also, while the number of management posts has remained relatively steady, the number of non-management posts dramatically increased by 32 per cent during the second half of 2013, particularly in front office and housekeeping vacancies.

“Hospitality is a key driver for many countries in the Gulf with governments pushing money into the tourism industry to support economic diversification. This means it’s imperative for the industry to work with accurate data to support the sector’s growth,” said Willis.
 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.