We’re facing a skills crisis in the Middle East.
According to the Bayt.com “Skills Gap in the Middle East” survey, job seekers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are facing a tough job market these days. Across the MENA region, only two in every 10 companies (17%) surveyed are currently searching for new employees. From companies hiring, most demand is seen for entry-level positions, with only 10% of employers surveyed currently searching for director-level candidates.
Yet, even with such limited hiring demand, employers are finding it challenging to find candidates with the required skill sets, for both senior and mid-to-junior-level positions. The difficulty is accentuated with senior positions, with 70% of respondents claiming they find it ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’ to find senior candidates with the required skills. Interestingly, ‘technical skills’ were often seen as posing the least challenge, while ‘soft skills’ are regarded as most lacking.
When comparing the feedback of employers to the perception of jobseekers, the skills gap is seen even more clearly. Contrary to employer feedback, job seekers generally regard themselves as having a high degree of competency across most skills, with those seeking senior positions being more confident regarding their skills and rating themselves higher on all skills, when compared to more junior job seekers. Despite this general positive view of their own skill level, half of the job seekers surveyed say it is difficult to secure a job with their current skill level.
According to 42% of respondents, the best solution to tackle the skills gap crisis is by having companies provide enough training opportunities to employees. Indeed, business leaders have a promising opportunity to bridge the skills gap by providing training and rethinking their role in nurturing talent and developing skills in their communities, industries and regions.
Other cited solutions include: better cooperation among various stakeholders (companies, educational institutions and governments) (40%); and providing students with the skills they need to enter the current job market (39%).
You can view and download the entire exclusive report online for free: Bayt.com Skills Gap report.
