UAE | Employment

Unemployment figure rises as Emiratis seek better jobs

Employed UAE nationals seeking better career opportunities have created an artificial unemployment rate, a senior official said.

  • Staff Report
  • Published: 23:50 October 9, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Supplied Picture
  • 'Out of the 10,000 UAE nationals registered with ENDP, nearly 4,000 are employed, though many are seeking better prospects,' Azza Al Shardan said.

Dubai: Employed UAE nationals seeking better career opportunities have created an artificial unemployment rate, a senior official said.

Talking about emiritisation and private sector's responsibility among a host of other issues at a majlis organised by Dubai Press Club, Azza Al Sharhan, Director of Emirates National Development Programme (ENDP), said: "Out of the 10,000 UAE nationals registered with ENDP, nearly 4,000 are employed, though many are seeking better prospects.

"It's unfortunate that the names of nearly 1,000 Emiratis had to be removed from our database, following their failure to attend more than four interviews.

"Private sector has begun implementing the mandatory quota system of allocating up to four per cent jobs for Emiratis, most of these positions are not in sync with the job description. This has resulted in large-scale resignations.

Disparity

"Additionally, the disparity between the scope of work and qualifications of nationals has led to lack of motivation and resignations."

Azza said the primary reason for graduates' inability to find suitable jobs is not due to the weakness of the academic system, but due to the lack of specialised education and the failure of universities and colleges to offer vocational guidance.

"The graduates of the Higher Colleges of Technology, for instance, are eligible to enter the labour market as they possess the necessary skills.

"However, they lack the specialisation that businesses in the UAE require. So, when they are recruited, the jobs have often led them to positions for which they are not qualified," she said.

The majlis also saw the unveiling of a new ENDP programme, offering professional career guidance to students with the affiliation of various universities and colleges.

"These courses will help UAE nationals to seek suitable career paths and close the gap in the UAE labour market," she said.

Highlighting the demand for nationals in the media, freight and insurance sectors, she questioned: "Why aren't UAE nationals as prominent in the private sector as they are in the government sector?

"With so many new investments by the private sector, there are continuous job vacancies that need to be filled. I encourage UAE nationals to take these opportunities and excel in their careers."

So far, ENDP has facilitated the recruitment of nearly 2,400 UAE nationals in the private sector. It is currently working on a new programme that will see professional career advisors monitoring the progress of recent recruits during their first six months of employment.

The counsellors will offer guidance to the employee and the employer to ensure both meet their respective objectives.

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