Regional employers now prefer fresh graduates

Managements in the Middle East are keen on hiring fresh graduates since the economic recession, according to a survey released on Sunday.

More than a third of respondents across the Middle East and North Africa said their management is more prone to hire fresh graduates after the recession due to the fact that they accept a lower salary and require fewer benefits, said an online poll conducted by job site Bayt.com.
The results of the 'Fresh Grads in the ME Workforce 2010- 2011' poll showed that 37.6 per cent per cent of respondents said management was keener on hiring fresh graduates since the recession, 26.4 said they were less and 19.2 per cent said things remained unchanged.

When asked which percentage fresh beginners constituted in the workplace, 27.7 per cent  of respondents said up to 10 per cent, 14.6 per cent said between 10 and 20 per cent, 12.4 per cent said between 20 and 30 per cent, 9.7 per cent said between 30 and 50 per cent, 18.2 per cent said more than 50 per cent, and another 17.4 per cent said there were no fresh beginners in their office right now.

The polls went on to ask the region's respondents how many fresh graduates on average their companies had recruited in the past 12 months. Over half of those polled (56.3 per cent) said only 0 to 5 per cent, 16.8 per cent said 5 to 10 per cent and 27 per cent said more than 10 per cent.

Participants in the poll were asked what departments are likely to employ the biggest share of fresh grads in their companies; 27.1 per cent said marketing, 20.2 per cent  finance and accounting, 18.4 per cent IT, 15.2 per cent  HR and administration, 4.7 per cent creative department and 14.5 per cent said other departments.

The respondents were then asked what they thought the number one motivation for employers to hire fresh graduates is. More than half (51.7 per cent) said less salary and benefits, 12.7 per cent said more passion and desire, 10.4 per cent said fresh zest of life and creativity, 8.5 per cent said more self-motivation and initiative, 8.4 per cent  indicated fresh analytical thinking, 5.1 per cent indicated communication skills,

"As the number one job site in the Middle East, Bayt.com is dedicated to researching and analyzing data that can be useful to both employees and employers," Mr. Amer Zureikat, VP Sales, Bayt.com. "The results of our most recent poll show that in times of economic strife employers are perceived as more likely to hire fresh graduates mostly due to the fact that they accept a lower salary and require fewer benefits."

Most of the respondents (49.2 per cent) said their companies provided mentorship programs and proper training for fresh beginners once recruited, however 39.6 per cent said their companies did not.

When asked what most of the fresh graduates that respondents knew were currently looking for, the vast majority (76.5 per cent) said job enrolment. Afew said internship opportunities (9.7 per cent), and a small minority said further education (6.4 per cent) and setting up their own businesses (6 per cent) and.

Data for the 'Fresh Grads in the M.E Workforce 2010- 2011' poll series was collected online between July 7, 2010 and August 17, 2010, with a total of 13,197 respondents from across the Middle East.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.