UAE construction job market getting tougher

Competition in the UAE jobs market is getting tougher after scores of redundancies have left thousands of jobseekers battling for just a handful of vacancies.

A report by Construction Week revealed that one company had received 120,000 applications for about 300 jobs, which works out around 400 applicants per job.

Recruitment firms said some companies are still recruiting, but at a much lower level than in previous years.

“We have placed numerous applicants into jobs this year,” said Davina Cooper, Duneden managing partner. “However, this was less than the amount we placed for the same quarter last year.

“The majority of our clients appear to be restructuring their organisations to adapt to the current market conditions.

“It is much more of an employer’s market right now,” she said.

The number of people looking for jobs has also declined, according to Matt Potts, construction and development director of Carmichael Fisher.

“This is due to many of the individuals, unfortunately having been made redundant in the recent months, having now found alternative employment either within the Middle East or further afield,” he said.

But, some positive news was to be found with some agencies reporting an upturn in recruitment by the end of the year.

Dave Storey, Michael Page Middle East director, said: “Compared to our neighbours in other global markets, the Middle East has stayed in a positive growth phase.

“We believe there will be an encouraging uplift in the marketplace by the end of 2009, with strong personnel demand from more mature global markets where completion on projects is paramount.”

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM