KHALEEJ TIMES, Wed, Jun 26, 2024 | Dhu al-Hijjah 20, 1445
Nearly half of UAE employers say expats flocking to country without job in hand
Emirates:
Nearly half – 49 per cent – of UAE
employers say that many expatriates flocking to the UAE are immigrating without
a job in hand, according to a new study released by recruitment firm Robert Half
on Tuesday.
Many people previously used to come to the UAE on
a visit visa – usually on a three-month visa – in search of greener pastures in
the Emirates. Those who were lucky and landed a job were issued an employment
visa, but those who couldn’t find a job returned to their home countries or
accepted jobs with a lower pay.
In October 2022, the UAE announced a job
exploration visa among many other entry permits to allow people to scout for
jobs in the country as the economy grew at an exceptional place, creating jobs
across diverse sectors.
“The UAE has a lot to offer candidates with good
weather, tax-free earnings and multicultural lifestyle, which is bringing a lot
of expats over in the expectation that they will be able to find a job easily
when they arrive,” said Gareth El Mettouri, director for Middle East at Robert
Half.
Taking larger pay cut
The global recruitment consultancy said that the
availability of expat workers is making it easier to hire UAE employers, with
half – 52 per cent – saying that they are now receiving more job applications
per role than they were 12 months ago.
With the hiring market firmly on the side of
business, leaders are reaping the rewards of the expat deluge. Two in five – 43
per cent – employers said it is taking less time to get candidates into a role
because they are immediately available, while one-third of employers reported
that unemployed expats are willing to take large pay cuts to secure a role.
Due to the influx of a large number of expats,
Gareth El Mettouri said the “competition for jobs is fierce, and many are having
to settle for lower salaries or take the first role offered to them to stay,
putting businesses in a strong position.”
Talent is plenty, but…
The study noted that employers in the UAE are
finding it easier to hire as expats flood into the UAE, but many are still
finding it challenging to hire talent with the skills they need.
According to global recruitment firm Robert Half,
around 71 per cent of UAE hiring managers agree that it has become easier to
attract workers to the organisation over the past 12 months, partly due to a
notable influx of expats coming to the UAE over the past year, with half of them
claiming that many expats are immigrating without having a job secured.
The UAE has seen a massive influx of foreign
workers in the past three-and-a-half years, thanks to the massive macroeconomic
growth the country witnessed across different sectors. This was reflected in
Dubai’s population, which rose by nearly 300,000 from 3.4 million on January 1,
2021, to 3.7 million on June 25, 2024, mainly driven by people coming to UAE in
search of greener pastures.
Employers searching
However, having more expat workers in the
country does not necessarily mean that employers are finding talent with the
skills they need.
According to Robert Half, around half – 47 per
cent – of business leaders say that although it is easier to find workers,
it is not easy to find workers with the right skills. This is especially
true when seeking candidates who are already in the UAE or have previous UAE
experience, with one in five – 19 per cent – agreeing that this is
particularly challenging.
“Many organisations are still struggling to
find the skills they need to succeed in the current economy. Highly skilled
talent – particularly with experience in the UAE market – can command higher
salaries, and many businesses are opting for the cheaper option only to end
up back where they started when their new hires do not work out. It is
important that business leaders weigh up the importance of the skills they
need against the cost, or they could find their growth impeded by a lack of
talent,” said El Mettrouri.
72% employer to hire
Robert Half's study further revealed that
nearly three-quarters – 72 per cent – UAE employers plan to make new hires
in the next six months. The strong UAE economy is supporting business
growth, with half citing this as the main reason they are looking to hire
new team members. Around 30 per cent of employers are looking to backfill
vacant roles or to relieve understaffing that is preventing the business
from achieving its goals.