Abu Dhabi: Unemployment among Emiratis dropped to just 2.6 per cent in 2013 as there is a steady increase in the number of Emiratis willing to work in private sector firms.
But there is still a dearth of industry-specific training programmes that are offered to workers early in their careers, a top Emiratisation expert has said.
As a result, many Emirati employees tend to leave well-paid jobs after a short while for other positions, a trend known as job hopping. This means that Emirati employees are not receiving the specialised industry experience early on, explained Eisa Al Mulla, executive director at the nationals development facilitator, the Emirates Nationals Development Programme (ENDP).
“We are [therefore] focusing on advocacy work to change the way companies look at Emiratis. They are potential assets, not liabilities, so it is in companies’ long-term interests to invest in mentoring and supporting Emirati career growth,” Eisa added.
Her statements came on the opening day of the Tawdheef Recruitment Fair, an annual drive in the capital that offers job opportunities and connects with Emirati job seekers. The ninth edition of the event has 7,500 positions on offer at a total of 75 firms, and it is expected to attract nearly 12,000 visitors during its three-day run.
The fair was inaugurated by Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister for Culture, Youth and Community Development, and saw scores of Emirati job seekers and future graduates meet with exhibitors.
The first day also included the Emirati Youth Forum, a session that allows attendees to meet industry role models and also express their goals and aspirations when joining the workforce. More than 100 Emirati students attended the forum.
A live poll conducted found that despite increasing private sector employment among Emiratis, 67 per cent of the participating students still believed it was challenging to work in private companies due to strong competition, low job security and a diverse range of cultural influences. On the other hand, only 52 per cent of those present indicated that that they found public sector jobs challenging, mainly because of the inherent monotony and lack of career growth options.
Some 53 per cent of the respondents also said their realistic salary expectations as fresh graduates would be Dh25,000 a month or more, while only 2 per cent were willing to take up positions that offered less than Dh10,000 per month.
Among the most preferred private sector employers were Mubadala, etisalat, Emirates Group, Adnoc and Etihad Airways.
But not everyone was particularly picky. Many unemployed attendees told Gulf News that they were simply looking for experience and a chance to support their skills.
“I just graduated with a diploma in project management three months ago, and I am honestly just looking for a job that allows me to enter the industry,” said R.M., 34, a fresh graduate and mother-of-five from Abu Dhabi.
“My focus is not on getting a job with an industry leader, or on a high pay scale. At this stage, I just want to earn enough to support my family and give my kids something to be proud of their mother for,” she added.
