This indicator is published twice a year and provides an in-depth analysis aimed at measuring job availability and prevailing employment trends. It highlights workforce developments across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the most sought-after skills and qualifications.
Employment Trends
Job market outlooks for job seekers in the region appear promising, with 68% of companies in Gulf Cooperation Council countries and 60% in North Africa planning to hire this year.
The sectors showing the highest likelihood of hiring in the Middle East and North Africa this year include oil/gas/petrochemicals (76%), advertising/marketing/public relations (73%), and engineering/design (72%).
Positive prospects are also evident in the short term, with advertising/marketing/public relations (70%) leading the list of sectors most likely to hire over the next three months, followed by manufacturing (64%) and healthcare/medical services (57%).
"The Middle East and North Africa continue to evolve amid significant changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has clearly impacted employment opportunities across various economic sectors and professional levels," said Ula Hadad, Human Resources Operations Manager at a leading platform. "This employment outlook allows us to track hiring trends and required skills twice a year, empowering job seekers to develop relevant competencies and helping employers attract top talent."
Most Sought-After Skills, Roles, and Academic Qualifications
Most companies in Jordan plan to create entry-level positions, increasing demand for junior executives (29%). Among specific roles, customer service representatives (19%), marketing executives, and accountants (both at 16%) are the most frequently sought positions by employers in the country.
More than one-third of participating employers (36%) indicated they are seeking candidates with strong sales and marketing skills, while 30% are looking for administrative expertise, and 29% are targeting mid-level managerial experience.
Key skills in high demand include strong communication in both English and Arabic (63%), innovation and efficiency (both at 41%), followed by teamwork ability (40%).
Academic qualifications most in demand among employers in Jordan include business administration (29%), computer science (17%), and engineering (16%).
Most Attractive Sectors for Talent
The most attractive sectors for talent in Jordan are financial services/banking (31%) and advertising/marketing/public relations (28%), followed by healthcare/medical services (25%).
Financial services/banking emerged as the top sector attracting local talent (30%), recent graduates (33%), and female professionals (35%) in the country.
"This employment indicator offers valuable insights into current market dynamics across the Middle East and North Africa," said Zafar Shah, Research Director at a regional research firm. "It serves as a helpful guide for job seekers, enabling them to assess job availability and identify in-demand skills. For employers and managers, it delivers key regional insights and forecasts about the labor market."
Data for this employment indicator in the Middle East and North Africa were collected online between December 10, 2020, and January 10, 2021, involving 920 respondents from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, and other nations.
