KPMG's HR survey reveals 28% of UAE workforce needs reskilling and upskilling

• 86% say productivity and performance measures must be redefined for remote work
• Nearly a quarter (23%) of employees will continue to work remotely

Dubai:  The UAE workforce may continue to see significant changes over the next one to two years. A new KPMG report revealed that nearly a quarter (23%) of employees may continue to work remotely, while more than a quarter (28%) will likely require upskilling. The Future of HR in the New Reality captures the perspectives of local human resources (HR) executives on preparing their organizations and HR functions for the future.

Nearly every organization is prioritizing people, as they grapple with pre-existing and new challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. Although nearly all (89%) of HR professionals agreed that the function played a leading role in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, it may be time for HR to reinvent itself. For example, considering rapid changes, HR professionals may take a different approach to measuring and improving productivity and workforce-related challenges to drive competitive advantage over the medium-to-long term, rather than focusing on short-term issues.

Marketa Simkova, Partner, Head of People & Change at KPMG Lower Gulf, said: "As HR leaders adapt to an unpredictable future, their focus tends to be on short-term firefighting to cope with immediate challenges. It is crucial to play the long game in order to thrive in the new reality. To do so, HR leaders may create a seamless, tech-enabled employee experience in a remote work environment, take ownership of the employee rebuilding and reskilling journey, and embrace analytics and data science to prove the impact of the HR function.”

Perceptions of HR

From facilitating the transition to remote working, to implementing and communicating health measures in the workplace, HR has been at the forefront of the Covid-19 crisis. While most business leaders and employees view the function’s response to the crisis in a favorable way, some decision makers believe HR needs to be bolder and prove its strategic worth.

The KPMG survey shows that 62% of HR executives believe the function needs to completely reimagine and transform itself to respond more effectively to future disruption. Half (50%) of HR professionals agree that the function is considered to be an “administrator” rather than a “value driver.” Eighty-six percent of HR executives believe the function needs to rethink productivity and performance measures in light of the shift to remote working.

As the report underscores, HR’s role should be that of a workforce architect in the new normal — identifying the right workforce mix, retraining leaders for remote environments, driving tech-focused programs and embracing digital learning solutions. Challenging and exciting times lie ahead, as HR professionals reinvent to stay relevant in today’s fast-paced and unpredictable business environment. A modernized approach to understanding and planning for the future needs of the workforce is quintessential to driving value for employees and the business.

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About The Future of HR in the New Reality survey

In Q3 2020, 1,288 HR executives from 59 countries and territories participated in KPMG’s Future of HR pulse survey. KPMG captured 26 responses from the UAE, representing a variety of organizations across a range of sectors.

About KPMG International

KPMG is a global network of professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 146 countries and territories and have 227,000 people working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such.

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© Press Release 2021