The United Arab Emirates is the most attractive job market in the Middle East, followed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, according to a Bayt.com report.

The Middle East job index by Bayt.com stated that 28 percent of recruiters are definitely hiring in the UAE. These statistics and industry trends will be discussed at IIR's Human Resource Summit and Expo 2011, to be held from November 20 to 24, under the patronage of Tanmia – The National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority.

Ibrahim Sabeel, head of external relations unit, Tanmia, said: “With a vision to pioneer the country in the development and empowerment of national human resources towards a qualified and competitive workforce, Tanmia plays a critical role in advancing the knowledge economic of the UAE.”

According to HR expert Tim Sanders, CEO of Deeper Media, and former chief solutions officer and leadership coach at Yahoo! Worldwide, retaining talented employees requires more than just offering them a bigger paycheck.

“Research found that employees are looking for employers that are well-respected and valued in their communities as their prime motivators for choosing to work and stay in companies. The companies that used the ‘carrot and stick’ method as their only attractor suffered greatly in talent management and retention. They lost competitiveness in the market,” said Sanders, who is set to speak at the forthcoming HR Summit's Super Sunday Guru Day.

On the other hand, companies are looking for employees with good communications and language skills (Arabic and English), a statement from Bayt said.

According to Bayt's survey, 59 percent of companies looked to these skills as the most important ones for UAE recruiters. Being a team player, co-operative, helpful and flexible were the second-most important skill for UAE employers. Sector wise, banking and finance attracted and retained top talent, followed by construction and telecommunications.

The HR Summit expects an attendance of over 350 delegates, including exhibition participants. The highlight of this year will be the three gurus – Tim Sanders, Dr Javier Bajer and Adrian Gilpin, it said. – TradeArabia News Service