1,800 Emiratis find new employment in 2009

More than 1,800 nationals found new employment in 2009 despite the global economic crisis with help from the Emirates Nationals Development Programme (ENDP).

Abdul Rahman Al Ghurair, Vice-Chairman of ENDP's Board of Trustees, said the employment figures had exceeded all expectations. He was speaking at the 18th meeting of the board recently.

ENDP's Executive Manager Essa Al Mulla, also Executive Director of National Workforce Development, said: "The banking sector made the largest contribution to the market in regards to training and employing job-seeking nationals.

"And ENDP has already made a quick start to 2010 with 100 nationals training with a partner in Fujairah."

In 2009, 364 nationals were hired in the retail sector, 934 in banking, 301 in semi-government positions, 52 in government, 41 in real estate, 28 in tourism, 19 in insurance, and 120 in other sectors. The total of 1,859 Emiratis assisted to find employment by ENDP in 2009 was even higher than the figure for 2008, which was 1,841.

Al Mulla also highlighted that ENDP, which operates under the umbrella of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, went to great lengths to make sure the new hires were adequately prepared for the positions. "Job retention is a very important issue. All those who were employed were given the appropriate training and skills by specialised agencies as well as the employer.

"In the banking sector, for instance, this has proven very successful. The vast majority of those we found employment for successfully retained their jobs," added Al Mulla.

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