When hiring GCC employers demand good communication skills in Arabic and English (64%), teamwork skills (42%) and ability to work under pressure (41%) as nearly 7 in 10 (69%) of them plan to hire new employees in 2023.

 

This is according to the latest Job Index survey by Bayt.com, a top job site, and market research agency, YouGov.

 

The survey is an in-depth, bi-annual study that attempts to measure job availability and hiring patterns. Additionally, it examines trends in the Middle East and North Africa job market and explains essential skill sets and credentials in the region.

 

Hub for innovative companies

Ola Haddad, Director of Human Resources at Bayt.com said: “The Mena region is fast becoming a hub for innovative companies and start-ups, offering diverse career paths for those looking to break into new markets. This has the potential to make the region one of the most sought-after destinations for job seekers from around the world. By monitoring and providing insights into the job market, the bi-annual Job Index survey enables employers to connect with top talent from around the world, facilitating their growth and opening opportunities for thousands of job seekers in the Mena region.”

 

Job roles and requirements

Sales Manager (19%), Accountant (17%) and Project Manager (16%) are the top roles to be hired in the next three months in the GCC.

 

Interestingly, over one-third (35%) of survey respondents state that they are looking for candidates with managerial experience, while 33% are searching for those with sales and marketing experience and 31% want candidates with mid-level experience.

Engineering (23%), Business Management (23%) and Information Technology (18%) are the most sought-after academic qualifications amongst employers in the GCC.

 

Industries attracting top talent

Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations (30%), IT/Internet/E-commerce (27%) and Banking/Finance (27%) emerge as the industries that attract or retain top talent in the Mena region. Overall, Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations emerges as the main industry attracting the national talent (29%), fresh graduate talent (32%) as well as female talent (43%).

 

Hiring trends in the Mena

In regard to hiring potential by industry, Commerce/Trade/Retail (87%) emerge as the top industries claiming to hire the most in the next one year. This is followed by Business Consultancy/Business Management/Management Consulting (85%) and Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals (76%).

 

Hiring intentions in a variety of sectors are optimistic in the near term as well, as the top industries on the list were Business Consultancy/Business Management/Management Consulting (79%), Human Resources (68%) and Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals (63%).

 

“The Job Index survey gathers data from the Mena region to analyse hiring trends in the region. Companies prefer to hire local talent and invest in the long-term development of the regional workforce. This has led to an increased focus on Arabic and English language proficiency, as more private sector employers consider it as the top skill that will boost candidates' chances of securing employment. By gauging current market trends in the region, employers and HR professionals can better align their recruitment efforts with job seekers’ qualifications,” said Zafar Shah, Research Director at YouGov.-- TradeArabia News Service