Two-thirds of UAE companies expect to hire new staff within the next three months, according to a new survey by Bayt.com.
Of the 67 percent of companies that will “definitely” or “probably” hire within three months, 64 percent of them said they were looking to take on 6-10 new people.
The figures are positive news for job seekers, although it is not clear whether the hired people would be filling new positions or filling vacated roles.
Further, about three-quarters of the 208 employers that responded to the survey said they expected to hire in the next 12 months, with 21 percent filling 6-10 roles. More than one-third (36 percent) would be junior executives.
In the immediate future, UAE companies are particularly seeking sales managers (19 percent), customer service representatives (15 percent), human resources professionals (14 percent), project managers (14 percent), and executive assistants (14 percent), the survey found.
Across the Middle East and North Africa, 62 percent of companies said they would definitely or probably hire in the next three months.
Private multinationals were most likely to hire, with 41 percent claiming to be “definitely” hiring.
“Overall, the region’s hiring outlook is looking quite positive for the coming three and 12 months,” Bayt.com vice president sales Suhail Al Masri said.
“This will particularly be the case for multinationals, which could provide professional residents a foot in the door for some of the world’s largest companies.
“We can also see an increase in plans to hire in the public sector, with 37 percent definitely hiring in the next three months, compared to 31 percent in January, 2014.
“The trend continues from past waves with most employers planning to hire people for junior or middle-level executive positions.”
Hiring figures were high across the Gulf.
In Saudi Arabia, 40 percent of the 342 responding companies said they would “definitely” hire within three months, and another 31 percent “probably” would.
About 35 percent of Qatari companies “definitely” would hire and 24 percent “probably” would.
In Kuwait, 37 percent of firms would “definitely” hire within three months, and 24 percent “probably” would.
Three in 10 Omani companies said they would “definitely” hire within three months, and 26 percent “probably” would.
Job seeker prospects are lower in Bahrain, where only one-fifth of companies said they would “definitely” hire and even fewer – 14 percent – “probably” would.
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