Falling fuel prices may be softening the recruitment in the oil and gas industry, but the overall demand for new employees in the UAE is still on the rise, with about nine out of 10 companies now seeking to hire additional staff, according to a new research.
In a survey among 200 companies in the UAE this month, it was found that 91 per cent of employers intend to “strategically recruit” more talent in 2015.
Hiring is more prevalent in the private sector, with the banking and finance, retail, hospitality and healthcare services companies showing the highest demand.
Reach Employment Services, which conducted the survey, attributed the positive hiring trend to growing business and investment confidence, employment opportunities arising from Dubai’s hosting of the 2020 World Expo and government-led efforts to transition to a knowledge-based economy.
“Our survey results clearly show positive growth for the UAE employment market with 91 per cent of companies expecting to strategically hire this year, layer on top of this natural employee attrition and talent acquisition which will be a major focus for companies in 2015,” said Andrew Croft, deputy chief executive officer, Reach Employment Services.
However, Croft observed that the decline in fuel prices, reduced revenues in the oil and gas industry and the negative sentiment has somehow dampened the recruitment activity in the oil and gas sector. Oil and gas companies are still hiring, although employers are taking a more cautious approach.
Croft said companies in the UAE are also interested in hiring women with children, with 73 of the companies saying they will be recruiting working mothers.
“UAE-based companies are continuing to see the enormous value in employing working mothers. Companies with flexible operating models for mothers will see the greatest benefits from accessing this experience,” said Croft.
About 40 per cent of the companies included in the survey also expressed interest in outsourcing staff “to provide a more flexible workforce.”
Etihad Airways has announced this week they will be hiring more than 6,000 Emiratis over the next five years.
“The UAE flag carrier will continue to utilize the strategic collaborations it has formed with a range of UAE government, educational and Emiratisation institutions with the aim of offering Emiratis various opportunities to develop a long and rewarding career in the airline business,” the company said in a statement.
Etihad, as well as Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways, have also scheduleld invitation-only and open recruitment events next month to hire additional cabin crew.
