Job seekers in UAE in strong position to negotiate terms
Job seekers in UAE in strong position to negotiate terms
Job seekers in UAE hold all the cards when it comes to negotiating salaries and terms as competition for jobs has fallen by nearly 35% as firms scramble for talent, research from LinkedIn found.
Individuals now looking for greater flexibility, along with higher pay, from employers. LinkedIn’s research found that 78% of respondents are considering a switch this year, and nine in 10 professionals in the Middle East and North Africa feel confident in their current role.
Some 48% cited improved salary as a factor most likely to catalyse a job move, and 45% said an opportunity to learn new skills would be a factor in them taking on a new role.
Ali Matar, Head of LinkedIn MENA and EMEA Venture Markets, said: “A staggering eight in 10 professionals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are considering changing their jobs. This is part of a larger global trend that has also seen companies revamp policies and benefits to not just hire, but also retain quality talent. Candidates are being increasingly selective about the organisations they choose to apply for – citing flexibility, compensation, and company culture as critical factors.”
Half of workers want salary hike
Meanwhile, 85% of workers feel confident enough to push for a promotion or new job opportunities at work, with 40% of employees in the UAE reporting their confidence in their role will grow in 2022. Fifty percent said a salary increase would convince them to remain with their current employer.
“One of the key motivators of this surge in worker confidence can be attributed to the increased prevalence of flexible working with 51% of the workforce saying that it has made them more confident to think about trying a new career,” according to LinkedIn’s report.
Among the most in-demand jobs in the UAE are data scientists, cyber security specialists, talent acquisition specialists, and back-end developers, according to LinkedIn.
Matar said: “We’re witnessing the tangible impact of a rapidly evolving world of work. New government policies, accelerated digitalisation, and renewed business priorities are reflected in the fastest growing job roles we see today. Now more than ever, professionals are rethinking why they work and how they want to work, and as a result of this we have seen employee confidence skyrocket.”
Skills such as big data, network security and machine learning are also some of the fastest growing skills in the region, as technology and AI continue to hold centre stage in the region’s agenda.
