PHOTO
The most in-demand jobs in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are in the sales, technology, sustainability and human resources sectors, LinkedIn revealed on Wednesday.
The professional services firm said that based on its latest data, businesses in both countries have been recruiting back-end developers, sales representatives, environmental managers and human resources operations specialists.
In the UAE, companies have been recruiting new staff to fill sales roles, as they look to expand revenue amid global economic uncertainty.
There have also been more openings for professionals looking for flexible work arrangements, with postings for remote jobs growing by 27.7% in December compared to the previous month. The increase is the highest among European, Middle Easter and African (EMEA) markets.
In Saudi Arabia, employers have been looking for HR and talent acquisition roles, as the kingdom seeks to attract new talent to the country.
Within the technology sector, the majority of businesses in both countries are also requiring advanced skills such as programming languages and cybersecurity.
Slowdown in hiring
Overall, hiring activity in the UAE slowed down in December amid concerns over global economic conditions.
As of December 2022, businesses in the UAE posted a 10% monthly decline in recruitment after a “significant post-pandemic hiring surge” in November.
The latest S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index had pointed to a “slight loss” of growth momentum in the non-oil private economy at the end of 2022.
It said employment in the UAE rose at the softest rate in eight months amid growing concerns about the global economic outlook.
Still, overall recruitment activity during the month was “significantly higher” compared to 2020, according to LinkedIn.
Based on its latest data, LinkedIn has compiled the fastest-growing jobs and skills required by employers so far this year.
UAE’s top 10 fastest-growing jobs and the skills needed:
Saudi Arabia’s top 10-fastest growing jobs and the skills needed:
(Reporting by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Seban Scaria)