Majority of UAE professionals optimistic about the 'future of work'

Staff hiring process will be fully online and more reliant on artificial intelligence, automation and analytics, study reveals

Nine in ten professionals feel confident and excited about the future of work in the UAE. Getty Images

Nine in 10 professionals in the UAE feel upbeat about the future of work, a new survey from Middle East jobs site Bayt.com and global research firm YouGov found.

The survey also shows that hiring employees is going to change in the future with 90 per cent of respondents saying that the recruitment process will be fully online, significantly faster and more reliant on artificial intelligence, automation and data analytics.

The survey, based on responses from nearly 5,000 employers and working professionals in the region, revealed a variety of insights on the skills employees must have to be competitive today and going forward, with the most significant changes driven by technology, the most effective ways to hire and develop talent and the future of job seeking.

“We're really excited to see what the future of work will bring. We have so many plans to bring together technology, AI, and people to drive experiences and intelligence in the hiring process," said Omar Tahboub, general manager of Bayt.com on Monday.

According to the survey, UAE companies favour employees with both interpersonal and technical skills, with 97 per cent of the respondents considering good communication an important aspect and 96 per cent emphasising the ability to work in a team. More than half of the respondents believe both technical and "soft" skills will be equally important 10 years from now.

Organisations in the UAE are also focusing on strategically recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce. According to respondents, creative thinking, computer competency and effective communication will be the top skills for job-seekers in the next 10 years – followed by job-specific skills, time management, teamwork, people management and adaptability.

From a hiring perspective, previous job experience and CV presentation are considered the most important factors in finding qualified people. Degree specialisation, diversity and cultural fit also play a major role in hiring decisions.

The survey also found organisations of the future will increasingly use technology to create products, services and experiences that were previously impossible.

As technology is augmenting and enhancing jobs in the UAE, about 81 per cent of the respondents believe that the demand for software engineers is likely to increase over the next 10 years along with demand for directors, project managers, systems administrators and designers.

The use of artificial intelligence and technology is expected to increase in the hiring process with automation, artificial intelligence and analytics dominating, the survey results show.  Most recruiters (86 per cent) also agree that response time to applicants is likely to speed up using applicant tracking technology.

More than half the respondents believe that online job boards and career websites and social and professional networks will be the most reliable employment seeking sources in the future.

By contrast, only about one third said a company website will be more reliable in the future.