Dubai’s Expo 2020, Qatar World Cup To Boost Demand For Skilled Workers

Events such as the Expo 2020 in Dubai and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will see employers in the region demanding particular skill sets, according to experts.

Niche skill sets and specific areas of expertise will shape the demand for a particular cadre of executive talent, with individuals with regional experience having a particular advantage.

“The Dubai Expo will see a significant influx of people into the United Arab Emirates’ talent pool as job creation escalates at all levels from the ‘vital many’ to senior executives,” said Jonathan Holmes, managing director, Middle East at Korn Ferry International.

“Corporate entities will be looking to identify and recruit best-in-class talent from all corners of the world and will not compromise on quality,” he added.

Those that will bring an area of expertise that is absent from the region will be a particular target for corporate entities, in addition, “cultural awareness” will also put candidates at an advantage, said Holmes.

Dubai’s vision to become an islamic finance hub will also spur changes in the region’s demand for talent at senior executive level.

However, despite the high demand for skilled professionals, “the percentage of women in the workforce is significantly lower,” said Muna Awwadova, partner at CTPartners.

“More time is needed, for the growth and development of women to move into more senior roles as government-led initiatives start to take effect.”

This is not the case however with all companies as Suellen Tomlinson, head of government, education & life sciences at Odger Berndtson said “our firm saw a higher percentage of women offered roles than men in the government and education sectors across the region in the past 12 months. This is particularly interesting for the GCC, highlighting the equality of opportunity that exists at senior executive levels within these sectors.”

Finding the right skill set, whether male or female, won’t likely be a challenge for corporations however, as a recent study by networking site LinkedIn found that the UAE is the most popular destination for professionals looking to migrate. India was found to be the top destination from where most professionals move to the UAE, followed by the UK, Pakistan, the United States an Saudi Arabia.