Further, most GCC employers are demanding good communication in English and Arabic (67%), followed by being a team player (45%), ability to work under pressure (43%) and good leadership skills (41%) as top skills for their hires.
Released bi-annually, the Job Index survey is an in-depth study that aims to measure the job availability and hiring trends. It also identifies trends in the MENA job market and provides an understanding of required skill sets and qualifications in the region.
Demand: Skills, Job Roles, and Academic Qualifications
Accountant (17%), Mechanical Engineer (16%), Sales Executive (15%) and Sales Manager (15%) are the top roles that GCC employers are hiring for in the coming quarter. In terms of experience required,35% of respondents state that they are looking for candidates with sales and marketing experience, while34% are searching for those with managerial experience and28% want candidates with mid-level experience.
In addition, Engineering (30%), Business Management (29%) and Commerce (21%) are the most sought-after academic qualifications amongst GCC employers.
Ola Haddad, Director of Human Resources at Bayt.com said: “The Middle East Job Index survey demonstrates that demand for professionals continues to grow in the MENA region. A fast and effective talent acquisition program, being clear about what the organization stands for, its culture and flexible working conditions are the deciding factors in winning talent during this period of growth.’’
Hiring Trends in the GCC
Job seekers in the MENA region will be pleased to know that hiring intention across many sectors is positive in the short term, with top industries looking to hire new employees in the next three months are Human Resources (68%), Hospitality/ Recreation/ Entertainment (67%) and Banking/ Finance (65%).
In addition,42% of the GCC companies that plan to hire in the next three months will be hiring for a maximum of five jobs, while21% of the companies will be hiring for about six to10 jobs.
The outlook looks positive for job seekers in the near future as well. Hospitality/ Recreation/ Entertainment (79%) emerges as the top industry looking to hire in the next one year. This is followed by Business Consultancy/ Business Management/ Management Consulting (78%) and Manufacturing (75%).
Most Attractive Industries
Advertising/ Marketing/ Public Relations (31%), IT/ Internet/ E-commerce (30%), and Real Estate/ Construction/ Property Development (30%) emerge as the industries that attract or retain top talent in the GCC region.
Zafar Shah, Research Director at YouGov said: “The future is bright for job seekers as the MENA starts to see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. Thanks to robust vaccine programs and people returning to the office, hiring trends reflect an encouraging recovery as this year’s first Job Index tracks, follows and communicates required skillsets.”
Data for the Middle East Job Index Survey was collected online from8 December2021 to10 January2022. Results are based on a sample of1,481 from the following countries: UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Sudan among others.