Private sector jobs alert: Emiratis now more open to joining

With an increasing number of young Emirati graduates ready to join the workforce, the hot topic of discussion has been that the private sector will have to play an important role in creating jobs and absorbing this fresh pool of talent.

Many efforts have been made to push for the employment of young nationals but still many remain out of the job market.

One side of the story is that private sector jobs are not all that lucrative and Emirati students consider and prefer roles in government department due to better pay packages and timings.

But, this finally seems to be changing and young citizens of the country are now looking to work in private companies too.

The other side of the story is that private companies will have to work to help make and enhance this transition.

This is according to Hamza Zaouali, founder and Managing Director of IRIS Executives, an Emiratisation executive search firm. He believes UAE national job hopefuls have started adopting a proactive approach towards the job market.

“In the last year, young Emiratis have improved their attitudes toward the job market, but we are also competing with many pre-conceived ideas and outdated ways to perceive a career,” she said. Zaouali will be launching a series of new career guidance videos at NAJAH Education and Career Fair, taking place from 29 to 31 October 2013 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

“The main challenge for private and government sector employers is to ensure that their perceptions and expectations are aligned with young Emiratis - some do this better than others.”

With less than 10 per cent of the UAE private sector workforce consisting of Emiratis, and unemployment hovering around 14 per cent, Zaouali conceded that the public sector still is the number one aim for young Emiratis, though he said this attitude is changing.

“The public sector still rules as the employer of choice for fresh Emirati graduates but it would be unfair to not recognise that this is changing,” added Zaouali.

“With young Emiratis, we are getting closer and closer to a tipping point and schools and private companies must recognise this and develop the right career guidance programmes to enhance this transition.”

Recent figures suggest that the private sector needs to create some 20,000 jobs a year to cater to the 100,000 to 200,000 young Emiratis entering the work force in the next 10 years.

“Over the years, we have witnessed two different types of behaviours with private companies on the matter of attrition of the Emirati workforce.  Some private organisations would not have any structure in place and know-how when it comes to hiring Emirati talent.  These organisations would be more likely to have a higher attrition rate of their Emirati workforce because essentially they do not attract and retain Emiratis the way they would other employees, he says.

“Other private companies have been able to adapt their HR strategies to the highly competitive emiratisation sector and are able to attract and retain a good portion of their Emirati workforce. These organisations are more likely to compete with government employers, which are very experienced in emiratisation,” added the expert.

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