A technician monitors cryptocurrency mining rigs. Digital skills are becoming ever more important. Bloomberg
A technician monitors cryptocurrency mining rigs. Digital skills are becoming ever more important. Bloomberg

Time to start future-proofing your job prospects



The UAE and the wider Middle East markets are currently undergoing a digital transformation.

However, as new technologies and industries emerge, employers are struggling to fill vacancies due to candidates lacking the digital skills they need in today's jobs market.

A recent study by the World Bank estimated that 50 per cent of today's jobs will be eliminated by 2030 to 2040 and replaced by new ones. While it’s impossible to specify exactly which roles are yet to be invented, it is possible to predict, based on current trends, where these roles might be and what job seekers might need to do to make themselves attractive to employers.

David Meads, vice president, Middle East & Africa at Cisco, says there is an increasing demand for specialists in areas such as AI, blockchain, cloud, mobility, and Software Defined Networking (SDN). SDN is an umbrella term encompassing several kinds of network technology designed to allow network engineers and administrators to respond quickly to changing business requirements.

While all industries are currently vulnerable to a digital skills shortage, one particular area is struggling more than most. Cyber security is a rapidly growing segment of the IT industry. As a result of a string of high-profile cyber attacks on businesses in the past couple of years, employers are now anxious to secure their data. According to the Cisco 2018 Security Capabilities Benchmark Study, a shortage of qualified candidates was again one of the top three obstacles to security.

“With a deficit of approximately 2 million cybersecurity specialists globally, and an increase in cyber threats, the opportunities are endless for cybersecurity professionals,” says Mr Meads.

Fortinet, is an IT Security company that has been operating in the UAE for more than a decade. The business has had difficulties securing the highly qualified individuals this industry requires. Alain Penel, regional vice president, emphasises that the firm is always searching for talented individuals but due to the highly specialised field they operate in, there is a significant gap in the market.

"It is a case of high demand and diminished supply; there are a few candidates in the market, and they are highly sought after by a large number of employers in the same field of operation as Fortinet, or in the wider IT industry," he says.

With digital skills in high demand, recruiters are also struggling to fulfil client requirements from the local talent pool. Alex Koumi, managing director of digital, marketing, PR, tech & creative talent at Dubai-based Kingston Stanley recruitment agency, says the region is starting to catch up and develop its own talent but, more often than not, senior level digital and technology candidates still have to be sourced from overseas.  "Clients have given feedback that candidates either do not have the right skill sets, have not had enough experience over the years running successful digital campaigns or cannot show tangible benefits,”  he says.

_______________

Read more:

500 Emirati men and women in first batch to be trained in artificial intelligence field

Google's new Arabic digital skills drive aims to improve job chances for young people

_______________

Fadi Abdul Khalek is the vice president, strategic partnerships and efficacy at the UK-based Pearson Education, the largest education services company in the world. He recommends a three-step approach for candidates in order to stay relevant as all job roles become digital over time.

Firstly, employees must take responsibility for their own skill set and keep an eye on trends for future in-demand capabilities and skills - to be aware of what the future is bringing.

Secondly, Mr Khalek says, if they find there is a gap in their knowledge, they need to upskill themselves through training or digital learning tools. “If a role is limited in focus, employees should ask their manager to rotate tasks in order to gain more exposure to different aspects of the business,” he adds.

Lastly, Mr Khalek recommends embarking on innovative forms of learning such as "Micro Credentials". These are certified higher education courses that are delivered in small chunks, when needed, and linked directly to the industry. "These blended courses are an efficient way of learning new skills while still holding down a full-time job,” he adds.

Mr Koumi echoes this and counsels candidates to assess their skills and invest in new ones as well as being prepared to embrace continuous learning. He also recommends keeping networks current. "Join relevant groups on LinkedIn, attend professional conferences and participate in online discussions to stay up on trends and what people are talking about," he says. "Put in some effort to cultivate a truly helpful network that will give you an advantage.”

Upskilling has generally been regarded as the responsibility of job seekers and employees although many business leaders and governments are now focusing on how to increase digital skills among those currently in the job market and the young.

The Dubai Government recently launched Rahhal, part of Dubai 10X - a Dubai Future Foundation initiative to take Dubai 10 years ahead of the rest of the world – in just two years. Meaning "traveller" in Arabic, the message of Rahhal is simple: the world is a classroom and all learning counts.

Mr Meeds says Cisco is committed to closing the skills gap. Through its Networking Academy, it offers free training at universities, schools, NGOs, government entities, and vocational colleges across the region. “We have trained over 295,000 students in the Middle East over the past 20 years and believe that public policy, private & public-sector partnerships and training programmes can solve Middle East’s IT skills gap in the long run,” he says.

Fortinet also works with communities and training facilities to increase skills in cyber security. The Fortinet Network Security Academy (FNSA) collaborates with academic institutions, non-profit agencies, and veteran programs to provide a framework for students to become part of an elite group of cyber-security professionals.

“Recognising that there is a skills gap is the first step to help address the shortage," says Mr Penel. "I believe it is the responsibility of leading employers to help address this gap.”

Whether job seekers or employers take responsibility or not, the fact remains that the world is going digital and those who don’t adapt and develop their skills for the new age face the prospect of being left behind.

Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8

Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm

Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km

Price: Dh380,000

On sale: now 

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

QUARTER-FINAL

Wales 20-19 France

Wales: T: Wainwright, Moriarty. Cons: Biggar (2) Pens: Biggar 2

France: T: Vahaamahina, Ollivon, Vakatawa Cons: Ntamack (2)

The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV

The biog

Name: Abeer Al Shahi

Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan

Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.

Favourite activities: Bungee jumping

Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

Score

Third Test, Day 2

New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)

Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
%3Cp%3EBy%202030%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%20aims%20to%20achieve%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2039.3%20million%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20nearly%2064%25%20up%20from%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20Dh90%20billion%20contribution%20to%20GDP%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2084%25%20more%20than%20Dh49%20billion%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20178%2C000%20new%20jobs%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20bringing%20the%20total%20to%20about%20366%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2052%2C000%20hotel%20rooms%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20up%2053%25%20from%2034%2C000%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%207.2%20million%20international%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20almost%2090%25%20higher%20compared%20to%202023's%203.8%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%203.9%20international%20overnight%20hotel%20stays%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2022%25%20more%20from%203.2%20nights%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How has net migration to UK changed?

The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.

It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.

The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5