Unemployment among nationals at 14% in Abu Dhabi

Senior government officials say better education and teaching Emiratis the value of working in private companies may be needed.

ABU DHABI // Unemployment among Emiratis in the capital city has reached 14 percent, and a range of measures like better education and teaching nationals the value of working in private companies may be introduced, according to senior Government officials. There will also be a shift away from a floundering quota system for hiring Emiratis as more of them become qualified to take on private jobs, with a greater focus on the quality of Emiratis hired instead of their proportion in companies. There could also be subsidies for private sector companies that hire Emiratis. The announcements were made at yesterday's Emiratisation Employers Forum 2010, which brings together Government officials in charge of Emiratisation policy, like the Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council (ADTC) and the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), as well as private sector employers. The forum ends today. Officials at the forum addressed a range of issues that hinder Emiratisation policy, while offering some solutions that could also help reduce high unemployment levels. * The National