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UAE: Top choice for young jobseekers

The UAE has emerged as the most attractive country for young jobseekers in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, with nearly six in 10 respondents saying that they would relocate to the country for job opportunities.
According to the 'Fresh Graduates in the Mena' survey by Bayt.com and YouGov, 24 per cent of respondents in the UAE said that the most appealing industry for a career is engineering/design. This was closely followed by banking/finance at 20 per cent and advertising/marketing, also at 20 per cent. These findings seemed to mirror the views of respondents when it came to which industries they see hiring the highest number of fresh graduates. Respondents listed advertising/marketing, banking/finance, and IT as the sectors which hire the highest number of fresh graduates in the UAE.
When asked why respondents think these industries employ more fresh graduates compared to others in the UAE, 45 per cent said that these industries believe fresh graduates have 'lower expectation on salary'. This was followed by respondents believing that fresh graduates can 'handle more challenges' and that they are 'more creative'.
When it comes to the challenges faced most often by fresh graduates in the UAE, 'finding a job' emerged as the top challenge, followed by 'discovering what we want to do in life', and 'saving money'. When respondents were searching for a job the greatest challenges they faced included the fact that 'employers were looking for candidates with previous work experience', followed by the challenge of 'knowing how to approach the job search effectively', and knowing 'where to find relevant jobs'.
The challenges associated with finding a job through traditional methods has also meant that 61 per cent of respondents in the UAE claimed that they found or plan to find their first job through leading online job sites. When selecting a job in the UAE, being passionate about the job itself emerged as the most important factor according to 44 per cent of respondents. Just 11 per cent said that a well-known organisation was an important factor when selecting a job in the UAE; while eight per cent of respondents also mentioned 'opportunities for career progression' as an important attribute when selecting a job.
Several companies across the UAE have also taken note of the challenges that many fresh graduates face when entering the workforce and have launched training programmes that will help them better integrate into the workplace. Most recently, Enoc Group has introduced its first 'Graduate Development Programme' aimed at helping young Emiratis in their transition from university to the workplace.
Despite the challenges, more than six in 10 respondents are optimistic about their career and educational opportunities for their generation compared to their parents' generation.
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com