Trends that will shape the 2024 job landscape in the UAE and Saudi Arabia

According to new research from LinkedInProfessionals from the UAE and Saudi Arabia prefer to work in jobs in the region rather than moving to Europe or the United States.

The study reveals that a whopping 82 percent of professionals surveyed expressed this sentiment, and the standard of living (46 percent), attractive lifestyle (35 percent) and career growth opportunities (31 percent) make of the region a preferred destination for working professionals. .

The resilient UAE labor market

This comes as no surprise as the UAE emerged as one of the most resilient international markets when it comes to hiring, with a 0.3 per cent year-on-year increase in hiring, up 30 per cent compared to December 2019 before the pandemic.

Professionals aim to revive their careers in the new year, as a significant number of them (62 percent) are actively looking for a new job or plan to start looking for one soon. Better salaries (42 percent) and the need for a better work-life balance (33 percent) are the top two reasons why professionals are looking for a career change.

However, it is worth noting that 73 percent of professionals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are considering looking for new housing due to rising rental prices, underscoring the correlation between affordable housing and retention. of talents within the region.

Skills remain at the core of the future of work in the UAE

There is a growing understanding of the importance of skills in the UAE job market, with more and more professionals highlighting their skills rather than their degrees when looking for a new job (83 per cent).

Professionals are notably focused on upskilling, as 76 percent of them said they would take on more demanding projects at work to diversify their skills and spend more time than usual on online courses to boost their career progression (72 percent).

Following recent years of uncertainty in the workplace, 84 per cent of UAE professionals are keen to future-proof their careers by focusing on skills.

Saudi professionals confident about their jobs in 2024

The research also showed that 79 percent of professionals feel confident when interviewing for a new position and 78 percent feel confident when looking for a new job. This confidence comes as a significant number of them (77 percent) believe their job prospects in 2024 are better than last year.

More women in Saudi Arabia will pursue career changes in 2024 (61 percent) than men (57 percent), citing a desire for better salaries (39 percent) and a better work-life balance (34 percent) compared to men (30 percent). . Women in the kingdom say satisfaction in their current job is the main reason for not wanting to look for a new one (57 percent), while men said their main reason is good pay and benefits (52 percent).

Ali Matar, EMEA Growth Markets Leader and Director of LinkedIn MENAsays:

“In 2024, we will see professionals from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia step up and take control of their careers. “This will lead to a more competitive job market, so standing out from other candidates will be more important than ever.”

“Fortunately, we see an appetite among professionals in our region to upskill and invest in creating their personal LinkedIn profiles. Highlighting how one’s skills are relevant to the desired job and staying on top of industry trends will also improve the chances of finding the right opportunity.”

Jobs on the Rise: The Fastest-Growing Roles and Trends Defining the Future of Work

The world’s largest professional network has also released its annual Jobs on the Rise lists in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, featuring the 15 fastest-growing jobs over the past five years and the trends defining the future of work.

Whether it’s the rise of finance and technology roles or new opportunities in the healthcare sector, the rankings shed light on where the workforce is headed and the skills needed to get ahead.

News source: Gulf Business

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