The UAE’s job market shows remarkable resilience and growth post-pandemic, with unemployment at a low 2.75%. But a critical challenge lurks beneath the surface – a talent shortage. This is according to hiring consultancy Cooper Fitch’s Salary Guide UAE 2024, which found that talent acquisition is a major concern for many firms.

The new report shows that 27% of businesses struggle to find suitable candidates, with leadership, management, and sales skills being the most sought-after yet scarce.

The report identifies management, leadership, and sales as the most critical talent gaps, with shortages in analytical skills, project management, artificial intelligence, engineering, and data science.

This dearth of qualified individuals, particularly senior and revenue-generating experience, could force companies to “invest significantly” and adopt innovative recruitment strategies to attract top talent.

Cooper Fitch observes that as a shortage of skilled workers affects several economies, including the US and Germany, the UAE has implemented various measures to mitigate the effects of this deficit.

Implementing the Advanced Visa System, designed to simplify relocation for skilled professionals, is expected to improve talent acquisition in the coming years. The Unemployment Insurance Scheme could make the UAE a more competitive global job market.