UAE jobs: majority of employers plan to hire in 2022

Human resources, hospitality, banking and finance are among the key sectors recruiting new employees this quarter, new survey finds

About 46 per cent of UAE companies that plan to hire in the next three months will recruit for a maximum of five jobs. Getty

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About 76 per cent of UAE employers plan to expand their workforce in 2022 as the country's economy and jobs market improve on the back of Expo 2020 Dubai and the government’s positive handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new survey.

The human resources sector is leading the hiring drive, with 68 per cent of companies set to recruit HR specialists in the first quarter of this year, the survey by jobs portal Bayt.com and market research company YouGov found.

This was followed by 67 per cent of employers in the hospitality, recreation and entertainment sector, and 65 per cent of banking and finance companies.

Meanwhile, 46 per cent of UAE companies plan to fill up to five roles in the next three months while 19 per cent of organisations are looking to fill six to 10 positions, the survey found.

New jobs growth across the GCC region will continue to strengthen in 2022, driven by sectors such as cyber security, digital, property and banking, a report released by recruitment specialist Cooper Fitch last week found.

The jobs market in the UAE, the second-largest Arab economy, has made a strong recovery from the coronavirus-induced slowdown on the back of the government’s fiscal and monetary measures.

About 43 per cent of businesses in the country plan to raise salaries this year by an average of 3 per cent, Cooper Fitch said in its 2022 salary guide in December.

The Bayt.com survey polled 1,481 respondents between December 8, 2021 and January. They were from countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt.

“Demand for professionals continues to grow in the Middle East and North Africa region,” Ola Haddad, director of human resources at Bayt.com, said.

“A fast and effective talent acquisition programme, being clear about what the organisation stands for, its culture and flexible working conditions are the deciding factors in winning talent during this period of growth.”

With coronavirus restrictions easing in the UAE, there has been a steady influx of tourists. To cater to this demand, 79 per cent of companies in the hospitality, recreation and entertainment industries plan to hire more employees over the next 12 months, the Bayt.com survey said.

There is also an increase in hiring activity in the business consultancy, business management and management consulting sector, and the manufacturing industry, where 78 per cent and 75 per cent of companies, respectively, intend to increase their headcounts this year.

Eighteen per cent of UAE employers are also looking for marketing and sales executives in the coming quarter, while 17 per cent are seeking accountants and sales managers, according to Bayt.com.

In terms of the most sought-after academic qualifications, 32 per cent of employers are looking for candidates with business management degrees, followed by 29 per cent who are seeking candidates with engineering backgrounds and 22 per cent who want people with commerce credentials.

Employers are also looking for employees with good English and Arabic communication skills, who can work as team players, have an ability to work under pressure and possess strong leadership skills.

“The future is bright for job seekers as the Mena [region] starts to see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel,” said Zafar Shah, research director at YouGov. “Thanks to robust vaccine programmes and people returning to the office, hiring trends reflect an encouraging recovery.”