About 75 per cent of employers in the UAE are expected to create up to 10 new jobs in the next three months, according to a survey.

 

The latest Bayt.com Middle East Job Index Survey conducted by Bayt.com and leading research and consulting group YouGov, pointed out tat the majority of these jobs will be fore junior executive and executives, with only a minority for top-level candidates.

 

About 69 per cent of those surveyed in the UAE believed that their country of residence is more attractive as a job market in comparison to other Middle East and North Africa (Mena) countries, it said.

 

Moreover, 46 per cent of working respondents in the emirates rated their industry as being more attractive as a potential employer in comparison to other industries.

 

When looking at specific roles in the UAE, according to working respondents, the most popular candidate positions will be for human resource professionals and executive assistants, both at 21 per cent, followed by sales managers, accountants and receptionists, said the survey.

 

About 37 per cent of UAE working respondents said that their company is generally seeking candidates with mid-level experience, while almost one-third of them said they are looking for candidates with managerial skills. 

 

In terms of candidate qualifications and skills, a graduate/post graduate degree in business management is the most sought-after academic qualification at 35 per cent, followed by a degree in commerce and engineering.

 

Good communications skills in Arabic and English (49 per cent) and good leadership skills (47 per cent) are also highly esteemed, it said.

 

The industry that attracts top talent in the UAE was banking and finance at 42 per cent, followed by oil, gas and petrochemicals (36 per cent) and construction (34 per cent).

 

Suhail Al-Masri, vice president of sales, Bayt.com, said: “Our goal at Bayt.com is to arm job seekers with the tools needed to thrive in today’s increasingly competitive job market. The Bayt.com Middle East Job Index Survey is a biannual study conducted to gauge perceptions of job availability and hiring in the region, as well as identify the key skill sets and qualifications in the current job market.

 

 “The survey shows that there is a positive trend in hiring practices in the UAE within the next 3 and 12 months. Results show that employment opportunities will mostly be geared towards the younger generation who are looking for entry-level positions. For them to increase their eligibility, young job seekers need to focus on fine-tuning their communication and leadership skills. 

 

“Entry-level candidates can also tap into different tools on Bayt.com that are designed to improve their skills and increase their professional knowledge. Bayt.com Specialties is a platform where anyone can ask and answer questions related to their field and professional specialties, and get ranked based on their interactions. Bayt.com Tests is also a great way for younger candidates to test and display their knowledge.”  

 

Elissavet Vraka, research manager, YouGov, said: “With 66 per cent of UAE working respondents stating that their company is planning to hire within the next three months, it is refreshing to see that hiring schemes in the country are on an upward trajectory. 

 

“And while a majority of these employers will be looking for junior executives and executives, now is the time for fresh graduates and job seekers with little or no experience to hone their skills and apply for the thousands of job vacancies that are advertised daily on leading job sites across the region.” 

 

Meanwhile, the survey pointed out that nearly 8 out of 10 UAE respondents work in the private sector, with 32 per cent of them working for a multinational company. - TradeArabia News Service