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UAE professional job opportunities rise 6pc

Dubai, August 16, 2013

Professional job opportunities across the United Arab Emirates increased by 6 per cent between Q2 2012 and Q2 2013, according to a new survey by recruitment specialist Morgan McKinley.
 
The report, which tracks professional vacancies, jobseekers and average salaries across the UAE, said between Q1 2013 and Q2 2013, there was a 2 per cent increase in new jobs. 
 
Meanwhile, the number of professional jobseekers rose by 3 per cent between Q1 2013 and Q2 2013 and year-on-year, the number of professionals looking for work increased by 18 per cent, it said.
 
Recruitment activity in the professional jobs market increased by 2 per cent between Q1 2013 and Q2 2013 – there were 6,189 jobs recorded in Q1 and 6,310 in Q2. This represents a 6 per cent rise when compared to Q2 2012 when vacancy levels stood at 5,861, the report said.
 
Professionals looking for new positions in Q2 2013 totalled 32,760. This represents a 3 per cent increase on the 31,898 that were seeking work in Q1, and an 18 per cent rise on the 27,790 jobseekers who were searching for new job opportunities in Q2 2012. 
 
As financial institutions begin to invest in infrastructure at levels last seen in 2008, the UAE’s ‘building boom’ is having a positive effect on employment levels within the construction sector, as well as the industries that supply it, the report said.
 
Trefor Murphy, managing director, Morgan McKinley UAE, said: “As borrowing costs fall and international liquidity rushes back, Dubai in particular has witnessed the revival of development projects that were shelved during the financial crisis such as the expansion of the Business Bay Canal.”
 
“In fact, last year the UAE overtook Saudi Arabia as the biggest construction market in the Gulf with $16.2 billion worth of contracts awarded in 2012, 4 per cent more than the kingdom. This has created demand for architects, surveyors civil engineers and project managers. And as demand for both commercial and domestic property continues to climb, I don’t anticipate this trend reversing.”
 
Emiratisation, a nationalisation programme introduced by the UAE government to ensure that companies recruit a specified quota of locals,  has had a direct impact on sourcing talent locally. Specifically, the initiative has led to opportunities arising for graduates who are UAE nationals.
 
“Where roles do not require Arabic however, it can be more challenging for employers to factor this legislation into their hiring decisions. This is an area where we have been providing assistance to many of our clients,” Murphy added. 
 
The increase in professionals open to moving job roles is a result of generally improved confidence across the region, with GDP growth at 4 per cent and projected to rise to 6 per cent in 2014, he said.
 
“For professional jobs, the UAE remains an employers’ market. But for the first time in four or five years, hiring managers are looking externally to source the best talent and this positive outlook is certainly filtering down to jobseekers,” Murphy also noted. 
 
“We don’t expect to see any significant fall in the number of available jobs over Q3, but the market is likely to become more steady as business confidence and renewed investment continue to gradually climb.” - TradeArabia News Service



Tags: UAE | Jobs | Mckinley |

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