3 factors making GCC region a preferred destination compared to US, Europe: LinkedIn

82% of professionals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia say they prefer the GCC region than moving to the US or Europe, according to a survey by LinkedIn. The poll covered 16,288 people across the UK, India and the US, among other countries, between November 24 and December 15.

Roughly 46% of respondents highlighted the Gulf region’s standard of living as a critical factor making it a preferred destination, followed by 35% noting the attractive lifestyle and 31% mentioning the opportunities for professional growth.

Nonetheless, LinkedIn said “this comes as no surprise, as the UAE emerged as one of the most resilient international markets when it comes to hiring, with a 0.3% annual increase in hiring, up by 30% compared to pre-pandemic December 2019.”

People seeking higher salaries, flexibility, better skills

Thanks largely to fiscal and social measures introduced by the government to attract skilled professionals and incentivise companies to set up or expand operations, the jobs market in the Emirates has recovered from the coronavirus pandemic.

Some 62% of respondents in the two Gulf states are either looking for another job or plan to start looking for one soon, the survey found. Higher salaries and the need for an improved work-life balance are the top reasons for people seeking a career move.

In the UAE labour market, there is a growing understanding of the importance of skills as 83% of professionals highlighted their skills instead of degrees at the time of looking for a job, according to the survey by LinkedIn.

Insight into fastest-growing jobs in UAE and Saudi

Fastest-growing jobs in the Emirates include real estate consultant, partnerships specialist, growth manager, private client adviser, mortgage adviser, BIM architect, sales development representative, banking officer, back-end developer and front-end developer.

Meanwhile, 79% of Saudi professionals expressed confidence about interviewing for a new role and 78% feel positive about searching for another job. This confidence comes from 77% believing their job prospects in the current year are better than last year.

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The Kingdom finds patient care technician, BIM co-ordinator, information system analyst, health and safety manager, human resources operations specialist, partnerships specialist, content creator and environmental specialist among the fastest-growing jobs, currently.