72% of UAE businesses to hire in a year

Dubai - 46 per cent of working respondents in the UAE rate their industry as being more attractive as a potential employer in comparison to other sectors.

Approximately two out of five employers in the UAE will definitely hire in the next three months, the latest Bayt.com Middle East Job Index Survey has found.
Conducted by Bayt.com and YouGov, the survey revealed that 69 per cent of those surveyed in the UAE believe their country of residence is more attractive as a job market in comparison to other Mena nations.
Moreover, 46 per cent of working respondents in the UAE rate their industry as being more attractive as a potential employer in comparison to other sectors.
Suhail Al Masri, vice-president of sales, Bayt.com, said: "The survey shows that there is a positive trend in hiring practices in the UAE within the next three and 12 months. Results show that employment opportunities will mostly be geared towards the younger generation who are looking for entry-level positions."
The survey also showed that 66 per cent of UAE employers will be hiring in the next three months, with 43 per cent 'definitely hiring' and 23 per cent 'probably hiring'. According to them, only three per cent of UAE companies are 'definitely not hiring'.
Moreover, in a year's time, 31 per cent of UAE's current employers said their companies will 'definitely be hiring', and 41 per cent will 'probably be hiring'.
Seventy five per cent of those looking to hire candidates in the UAE will be opening up to 10 new positions to potential employees in the next three months. The majority of these jobs will be for junior executives (45 per cent) and executives (40 per cent). Only a minority are seeking top-level candidates.
"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," said Elissavet Vraka, research manager, YouGov.
"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," she added.
Despite the positive trend in hiring practices, fresh graduates in the Mena region say that finding a job is the greatest challenge facing their generation.
According to the 2015 'Fresh Graduates in the Middle East and North Africa' survey, conducted by YouGov and Bayt.com, up to 45 per cent of fresh graduates living in Mena said landing their first job was/will be 'very difficult'.
Thirty two per cent said their job search lasted/will last between three and 12 months, while 16 per cent said it took/will take less than three months.
According to 60 per cent of respondents, the biggest challenge they face in finding a job is that employers want candidates with previous experience.
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com

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