Climbing the ladder

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Dave Storey, director of international recruitment agency Michael Page explains how careers in construction are slowly becoming more accessible.

There has been a drop in the number of available construction jobs since the downturn. Has this situation turned around in recent months?

It's important to mention that the slow down is not consistent across all industries. Obviously the banking, construction and property specific markets have slowed down considerably since October 2008. However, the public infrastructure sectors have remained in line with the previous two to three year growth phase. Since June this year, we have seen more confidence in the construction market but less in property or real estate.

The contracting market remains buoyant due to the fact that many projects are currently in completion stages. Resourcing for construction companies has been less this year, however, it is refreshing to see that companies are looking for either specialists in the market or executive construction completion experience, rather than having a quantity or volume driven focus.

When do you predict the construction jobs market will pick up again?

The construction jobs market is slowly picking up again in Dubai and has remained solid in areas such as Abu Dhabi and Doha. With an increased level of confidence from our clients, and the costs of raw materials standing at a reasonable level, the market will, continue to improve and remain a key region to expand ones career.

How significant is the difference between the number of people you placed into jobs this year compared to last year?

Definitely significant - like any business aligned to the markets, which have been affected, our business is based on executive demand from our clients. This demand has wavered lower than last year as per global market pressures. Fortunately, as a group, we have been partnering with our clients at a regional level not domestic level, and therefore our partnerships within the construction sector in these more remote, yet robust, markets have increased.

What is your general opinion on the current state of the construction market - in terms of recruitment?

Michael Page construction and real estate business units have appointed more executives into roles across the region over the past three months than the first two quarters of 2009 and we expect this demand to continue. Personally, I believe we will only have a true indication on the construction marketplace in Q2 2010 as there are many projects coming offline on a mega scale.

Therefore, it will be important to see what new projects come online. In addition, our clients are now more selective about the talent they attract, and the recruitment decision making process is more extensive than before (i.e. it is more in line with mature markets.) This ensures greater quality, process and retention strategies.

In which areas of construction have you had the most success in having people placed in jobs?

We have a significant executive global talent reach across the infrastructure and public sector markets and this has been a core focus in the GCC marketplace. Currently, projects aligned to highways, roads, bridges, tunnels and utility sectors are experiencing considerable growth. Other niche sectors in construction, which have required strong international understanding, are airports and port works across the GCC.

How have the requirements of construction employers changed since the downturn?

Specialist expertise coupled with an understanding of the local GCC market is highly important now for employers. They are also critically assessing the achievements of candidates, prior to offering them a position. For example, employers question whether an employee has completed a construction project successfully; if they have worked globally and coupled this experience in the local marketplace; if they have experience working in a multicultural environment; and if they are looking solely for a salary rise or if they are joining due to the vision of the firm, challenge and diversity of the projects.

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