UAE jobs in demand 2024: Top 10 skills in shortage

The UAE jobs market has shown resilience and growth in the post-pandemic years with unemployment down to 2.75 per cent in the country. Conversely, the strength of the economy has revealed key shortages in the availability of the talent pool in the country, according to hiring consultancy firm Cooper Fitch which notes that human resource acquisition is a significant concern among many of the firms surveyed in its Salary Guide UAE 2024.

The report highlights that more than a quarter of respondents (27 per cent) find that there is not enough available talent in the UAE to meet their hiring requirements during the next year.

The report identified ‘management’ and ‘leadership’ as the most significant talent gaps felt by those questioned this year, accounting for 16 per cent and 14 per cent of responses respectively. ‘Sales’ represented the third-highest deficit at 10 per cent.

The fact that more than a quarter of respondents (27 per cent) anticipate a shortfall in available talent in 2024 is a concern for employers, as it suggests that demand is likely to significantly outstrip supply in the UAE.

UAE jobs in demand

That ‘management’, ‘leadership’ and ‘sales’ occupy the top three spots on this list is equally worrying, as it suggests a dearth of qualified individuals with senior and revenue-generating experience.

The other jobs and skills set in shortage are:

Image credit: Cooper Fitch

The report notes that the skill shortage could see organisations in the country, “invest significantly, as well as in a range of innovative approaches, as organisations compete to attract the best candidates next year.”

Also read: What is the average salary increase in the UAE in 2024?

UAE policy to attract talent

As skilled worker shortage is felt across a number of economies – from the US to Germany, the UAE has moved to adopt a range of measures that should help minimise the impact of this shortfall, notes Cooper Fitch.

Visa policy changes that brought in the Advanced Visa System, designed to simplify the relocation process for entrepreneurs, skilled workers and investors, are likely to positively impact the talent acquisition efforts of UAE-based employers over the coming years.

Additionally, schemes such as the Unemployment Insurance Scheme is likely to make the economy a more competitive one on the global scale.