More job-specific training for Emiratis necessary

The annual Tawdheef Recruitment Fair held in Abu Dhabi this week brought to light an extremely important aspect that stands in the way of optimum Emiratisation — the lack of industry-specific training courses for nationals that would facilitate their seamless integration with the jobs they choose. Unemployment among Emiratis dropped to 2.6 per cent in 2013 due to their steadily rising interest in working for the private sector.

However, despite this growth, the gap between their academic qualifications and the conditions to enjoy specialised industry experience can be a stumbling block, resulting in many of the aspirants falling prey to the job-hopping syndrome. This fragments the process of professional growth for these aspirants. The Emirates Nationals Development Programme (ENDP), a pivotal facilitator for young Emiratis entering the workforce, is right in urging the UAE’s job industry to pay greater attention to formulating effective training courses in every sector. This pre-emptive approach will effectively fill the existing gap and play a big role in helping the UAE achieve its target of Emiratisation as a part of its Vision 2021.