2,000 Emiratis find work in Sharjah

SHARJAH // Almost 2,000 Emiratis have been employed in the private and public sector in the last year, according to figures from the Human Resources Department at Sharjah government.

The majority of jobs were in the public sector at various government departments and institutions, although some nationals took up roles at private firms. However, 339 declined job offers for reasons related to studies, working hours, pay and incentives

Statistics from the department showed a rise of 62 per cent in successful hires during the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2013.

Tareq Bin Khadem, the department’s chairman, said he hoped to work with the private sector to encourage more firms to recruit Emiratis. “I know that there are many companies in the private sector that have localisation ratios, but I think that it is time for more companies to join in.”

He said a major challenge was a lack of awareness by job seekers about what a career in the private sector can offer them.

During the first half of the year, the department helped to arrange interviews for 3,500 job seekers for positions in the private and public sector, out of which 2,300 attended the interview while the remaining 1,200 did not show up.

A desire to find the ideal position often leads some young nationals to move from job to job regularly, said Emirati M A. The father of seven, said he hoped his youngest sons would be more stable and stick with the jobs they have instead of changing every few months.

“Two of my daughters work, one of them in marketing, the other daughter works in the government,” said M A. “While my sons, the eldest of them is a workaholic, he works in a telecom company. The other two sons keep quitting their jobs every few months, they always complain that the jobs are not suitable for them.”

Emirati Sheika, 28, said she hoped to work in art and design but has struggled to find the right position for her and is unhappy in her current job. “I have a boring job for the past two years, however, I had several interviews in the art and design field, I hope I get accepted in one of them.”

The HR department carried out training for 1,090 job seekers during the first half of the year, with those who held a bachelor’s degree given a monthly payment of Dh1,500, and Dh1,000 for those with a diploma and secondary school qualifications.