Trends shaping the 2024 jobs landscape in UAE, Saudi Arabia

According to new research from LinkedIn, professionals in the UAE and Saudi Arabi prefer working in jobs in the region rather than relocating to Europe or the US.

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

UAE’s resilient job 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 annual increase in hiring, up by 30 per cent compared to pre-pandemic December 2019.

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

However, it is worth noting that 73 per cent of professionals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are considering finding new homes due to rising rent prices, underscoring the correlation of affordable housing with retaining talent within the region.

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

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

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

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

Saudi professionals are confident about their jobs in 2024

The research also showed that 79 per cent of professionals are confident about interviewing for a new role, and 78 per cent feel confident about searching for a new job. This confidence stems from a significant number of them (77 per cent) believing that their job prospects in 2024 are better than last year.

More women in Saudi Arabia are pursuing career moves in 2024 (61 per cent) than men (57 per cent), citing a desire for better pay (39 per cent) and better work-life balance (34 per cent) as opposed to men (30 per cent). Women in the kingdom state satisfaction in their current job as the main reason for not wanting to look for a new one (57 per cent), while men said that their main reason is good salary and benefits (52 per cent).

Ali Matar, EMEA Growth Markets Leader and head of LinkedIn MENA, says: “In 2024, we are seeing UAE and Saudi professionals taking agency and moving to the driver’s seat when it comes to their careers. This will give rise to a more competitive job market, so standing out from other candidates will be more important than ever.”

“Fortunately, we do see an appetite amongst professionals in our region to upskill and invest in building their personal profiles on LinkedIn.

“Highlighting how one’s skills are relevant to the job they want and staying on top of industry trends will also improve 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 in finance and tech roles or new opportunities in healthcare, the rankings shed light on where the workforce is heading and the skills needed to get ahead.