The latest Bayt.com MENA Job Index survey, conducted by Bayt.com, the Middle East’s leading career site, and YouGov, a research and consulting organisation, reveals that 36% of companies in the UAE are definitely hiring talent in the coming three months. 69% of those looking to hire will be recruiting up to 10 people.
Short- and Long-term Hiring Expectations
Based on the survey, 23% of employers in the UAE claim that they will probably be hiring new talent in the next three months, while an impressive 68% will either ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ be hiring in a year’s time. 40% of UAE companies will look to fill up to five positions in the next three months, while 29% will look to fill between 6-10 positions, most of which (71%) will be for junior or middle-level executive roles.
The study also revealed that in the next 90 days, UAE companies will mostly hire accountants (19%), sales managers (16%), customer service representatives (14%), and receptionists (14%). This is followed by HR professionals (12%), project managers (12%), and executive assistants (12%).
Moreover, 37% of companies in the GCC are definitely hiring after three months, versus 30% in the Levant and 29% in North Africa regions. In the MENA, more organizations in the Public relations or Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals industries reported that they will definitely be hiring in the next 3 months than in other industries. Most jobs in the MENA are expected to come from the private sector; 73% of respondents from multinational companies in the private sector say they will be "definitely" or "probably" hiring in a year's time, and 72% in large local private sector companies.
Candidate Qualifications and Skills
In terms of academic qualifications, a graduate or post-graduate degree in Business Management is highly favoured amongst MENA employers. In the UAE the most desirable qualification is also Business Management (28%), followed by Engineering (24%) and Commerce (20%). Employers in the UAE are looking for candidates who are team players (50%), have good leadership skills (49%), have strong communication skills in both Arabic and English (45%), and are trustworthy/honest (44%).
As for experience requirements, employers across the UAE prefer candidates that possess managerial proficiency (38%), sales and marketing acumen (32%), and computer skills (25%).
Recent Hires and Job Attractiveness
A total of 64% of employers across the GCC, the Levant and North Africa have hired new employees in the past six months, compared to 69% in the UAE who have done the same. According to 72% of UAE respondents, the UAE is more attractive as a job market than any other in the region. 16% of respondents in the Levant and 19% of those in North Africa, claim that their respective country of residence is the most attractive as a job market.
Additionally, UAE respondents believe that the most attractive industries – those retaining top talent – are banking/finance (38%), construction (34%), and oil, gas and petrochemicals (31%). 60% in the UAE also consider their current industry to be more attractive as a potential employer than any other.
Suhail Masri, VP of Sales, Bayt.com, said: “The ever-evolving landscape of employment – across the GCC, Levant and North Africa – is set to undergo further change in the near future. This comprehensive study shows a positive hiring outlook for aspiring candidates, especially those looking for junior or middle-level executive positions in the private sector. At Bayt.com, we remain unwaveringly dedicated to providing jobseekers and employers with in-depth insights into the job trends that are currently punctuating the market. Jobseekers should take note of what employers are looking for, especially in terms of skills and experience. They can then aim to highlight and improve on these in-demand skills through state-of-the-art products like Bayt.com Specialties, which helps jobseekers exhibit their skills to employers. Our mission has always been to meet the needs of candidates and improve hiring efficiency for employers. We constantly strive to empower both jobseekers and employers to lead better lives through our technology.”
Silviu Matei, Director, YouGov, said, “At YouGov MENA, we remain committed to delivering job market intelligence, designed to assist candidates with their job search . Our goal is to provide them with a full picture of what employers favour – from top skills and values to educational background – across coveted industries. This will allow them to fine-tune their profile and resumes accordingly. Ultimately, our aim is to help them to advance in their careers.”
Data for this Bayt.com Job Index Survey was collected online from December 11 2014-January 20 2015. The total sample size is 2,694 respondents, of which 2,516 were of working status. Countries that participated are the UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Pakistan.
