Dubai: A lot of jobseekers today are unable to find work not only because companies are hiring less, but also because most applicants lack the right set of skills that employers are looking for.
In fact, nearly seven out of ten (65 per cent) of companies in the UAE and the rest of the region do agree that there is a skills gap in the market, meaning that, despite a high volume of talent looking for jobs today, potential employers are actually finding it difficult to locate candidates that meet their requirements.
In its latest study, “The Middle East Skills Report,” Bayt.com identified what types of skills are in demand today for different positions, from junior to senior roles, and it looks like the most in demand ones have nothing to do with an MBA degree, or mastery in PowerPoint or spreadsheets.
The majority of employers, more than seven out of ten, prefer to hire applicants who are good at fostering teamwork, as well as those who manage their time well and are able to compose great emails and other written work.
About 83 per cent of employers said that for mid-career or junior positions, “teamwork” is very important. About the same number (80 per cent) pointed to “time management” and 76 per cent said “written communication” is very important.
About a third of employers (32 per cent) admitted that it is “very difficult” to find good candidates to fill junior or mid-career positions.
When hiring for senior roles, it looks like employers (53 per cent) are having difficulty finding applicants who are great at “creative thinking.” Those who have a “global mindset” are also challenging to find, according to 51 per cent of employers.
Data for the skills report was collected online between April 29 and May 29, 2017. A total of 6,299 interviews with both employers and jobseekers were completed, with the respondents coming from different countries, including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, among others.
10 most critical skills for junior positions:
1. Creative thinking
2. Global mindset
3. Design/visual thinking
4. Time management
5. Logical/critical thinking
6. Entrepreneurship
7. People management
8. Teamwork
9. Written communication
10. Emotional intelligence
10 most critical skills for senior positions:
1. Creative thinking
2. Logical/critical thinking
3. Global mindset
4. Time management
5 .Entrepreneurship
6. Teamwork
7. Design/visual thinking
8. People management
9. Job-specific skills and emotional intelligence
10. Technology and computer skills
