Team Blitz India
Many expatriates flocking to the UAE are without a job in hand, feel most employers, according to a new study released by recruitment firm Robert Half.
Many people previously used to come to the UAE on a visit visa – usually a three-month visa – in search of greener pastures in the Emirates. Those who were lucky and landed a job were issued an employment visa, but those who couldn’t find a job returned to their home countries or accepted jobs with lower pay.
In October 2022, the UAE announced a job exploration visa among many other entry permits to allow people to scout for jobs in the country as the economy grew at an exceptional pace, creating jobs across diverse sectors.
“The UAE has a lot to offer candidates with good weather, taxfree earnings, and a multicultural lifestyle, which is bringing a lot of expats over in the expectation that they will be able to find a job easily when they arrive,” said Gareth El Mettouri, director for the Middle East at Robert Half, according to Khaleej Times.
The global recruitment consultancy said that the availability of expat workers is making it easier for UAE employers to hire, with half – 52 percent – saying that they are now receiving more job applications per role than they were 12 months ago.
With the hiring market firmly on the side of businesses, leaders are reaping the rewards of the expat deluge. Two in five – 43 per cent – employers said it is taking less time to get candidates into a role because they are immediately available, while one-third of employers reported that unemployed expats are willing to take large pay cuts to secure a role, the paper said.
Due to the influx of a large number of expats, Gareth El Mettouri said that “competition for jobs is fierce, and many are having to settle for lower salaries or take the first role offered to them to stay, putting businesses in a strong position.”
