UAE job seekers looking at these key industries, reveals new survey

A new survey has found that the UAE’s job market has a growing demand for digital skills, with IT being considered the leading industry for potential growth.

On the other hand, healthcare and advertising, marketing, and public relations continue to be the most sought-after industries by job seekers in the region, according to the latest Top Industries in the Middle East and North Africa 2023 survey.

The survey, conducted by job portal, Bayt.com, and YouGov, offers key insights into the preferred industries, job satisfaction levels and salary expectations of professionals in the UAE.

Ola Haddad, director of Human Resources at Bayt.com said: “The UAE job market is dynamic and ever-evolving, and professionals, job seekers, and employers must stay informed about the latest trends and preferences. This survey provides valuable insights for both individuals and organisations looking to navigate the job market effectively and make informed decisions.”

“By understanding the trends and preferences of the UAE job market, we empower employers to make informed decisions and job seekers to reach their career goals,” said Zafar Shah, account director at YouGov.

Most sought-after sectors

Based on the feedback from respondents, the following emerged as the top industries where respondents are currently working or have worked most recently:

• Healthcare (11 per cent)
• Education and academia (5 per cent)

The following were the most popular industries for job seekers

• Healthcare and medical services (18 per cent)
• Advertising, marketing and public relations (15 per cent)

Tracking job satisfaction, pay, equal opportunities, UAE talent

One of the key findings of the survey revealed that 65 per cent of UAE residents are satisfied with their working hours. However, nearly half of the respondents expressed dissatisfaction with their salary packages, followed by career growth, where 48 per cent of respondents claimed dissatisfaction.

The widespread view that industries with high salaries are key, highlights the critical role of competitive pay in attracting the best talent in the UAE.

When asked about the industries offering the best salary packages, 25 per cent of respondents believed that oil, gas and petrochemicals ranked the highest in their country of residence, which includes non-monetary benefits.

Additionally, 19 per cent of respondents believed that real estate, construction and property development as a sector offered the best salaries after oil, gas and petrochemicals.

In addition, the survey provides valuable insights into job preferences and the availability of job opportunities for women and local talent in the UAE.

The following emerged as the most attractive industries for women in terms of job preferences.

• Oil, gas and petrochemicals (14 per cent),
• Banking, finance and accounting (14 per cent)
• Government and civil services (20 per cent)

The following were the top three industries in terms of attracting the highest proportion of local talent.

• Oil, gas and petrochemicals (15 per cent)
• IT, web, e-commerce (14 per cent)
• Banking, finance and accounting (12 per cent)

Insights on industries and career changes

It has been increasingly evident that digital skills are in high demand across various sectors, with the IT, web, and e-commerce industries leading the list. This sector recorded the strongest growth at 24 per cent in 2023. The findings indicate the importance of acquiring and honing digital skills to remain competitive in the job market.

Further highlighting the relevance of specialised education in terms of employability, the following emerged as industries hiring the highest proportion of fresh graduates.

• IT (including web and e-commerce) (21 per cent)
• Banking, finance and accounting (19 per cent)
• Education and academia (13 per cent)
• Government/ civil service (12 per cent)

Notably, 18 per cent of the working respondents changed their industry in the last two years, with better salaries (35 per cent), lack of recognition (35 per cent), and better opportunities for career growth (41 per cent) being the top three reasons for having made the change.

Forty-one per cent of respondents are considering an industry change in the next few months, the survey revealed.

The following are industries that are most appealing for a potential change.

• Oil, gas and petrochemicals (8 per cent)
• Commerce, trade, retail (3 per cent)
• IT (including web and e-commerce) (5 per cent)

Better salary (62 per cent) is the top reason for considering an industry change, followed by better career growth at 49 per cent.

Preference for government jobs

The survey found that working for the government remained a favoured option among job seekers in the UAE.

Factors such as stability, benefits, and career opportunities play a key role in making government jobs a popular choice.

The majority of respondents (76 per cent) believe that the government is a favorable employer, with 63 per cent claiming that the government is an extremely favorable employer.