Medical workers, content freelancers and e-commerce specialists are among the fastest growing professions in the UAE, according to LinkedIn, which is reaping the benefits of a global jobs market in flux.
"While the shifting landscape over the past year has resulted in significant job losses, we've also seen a rise in job categories in direct response to changing consumer behaviour and business needs," LinkedIn said in its 'Jobs on the Rise' report.
Parent company Microsoft posted a 23 per cent surge in revenue for the platform last year compared to 2019. In addition to selling advertising, revenue is generated from premium subscriptions that can help job seekers and tools for recruiters.
About half of the UAE’s adult population, four million people, are members of LinkedIn, which is the world’s biggest professional networking site with 740 million users around the world.
LinkedIn looked at the roles experiencing the highest growth between April to October 2020, compared to the previous year and ranked job categories by a combination of growth and the size of demand for roles.
These are the top five.
1. Specialised medical professionals
Hiring for medical professionals more than doubled in the UAE from April to October 2020 as the world battled the Covid-19 pandemic.
LinkedIn reports 41 per cent of those hired had a Master’s Degree or above with the most in-demand roles being registered nurses, general practitioners, doctors and pharmacists.
2. Digital content freelancers
To support the local economy during the pandemic, the UAE created new work permits for international freelancers as online activity and remote working soared.
The adoption of digital platforms across sectors, and changing consumer behaviour led to a threefold increase in digital content-related jobs, with a quarter open to hiring a remote worker.
The top skills for these creative types were for blogging, YouTube, podcasting and social media marketing.
The average age for this job category was 29, slightly higher than other markets like Brazil and Spain where the average age was 25 and 26 respectively, according to LinkedIn.
3. Healthcare supporting staff
While frontline nurses and doctors continue to be most in demand, those in supporting or "behind the scenes" roles are also finding greater opportunities in a changed world. Lab assistants and managers working on vaccine clinical trials, coronavirus treatments and PCR testing, like those at Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center and Group 42, led to a 129 per cent rise in demand for jobs, according to LinkedIn.
Top skills are in hematology, infection control, microbiology, laboratory skills and clinical research.
4. E-Commerce specialists
Dubai became a nexus for developing virtual shopping tools and capabilities, according to LinkedIn. E-commerce coordinators and online specialists are the most in demand.
The average age of those hired was 29, and two-thirds hold a bachelor’s degree.
The top skills are in digital marketing, search engine optimisation (SEO) and e-commerce.
5. Digital marketing specialists
Companies moved to capitalise on increased e-commerce activity and a rapid adoption of remote working, with a growth of 71 per cent hired into digital marketing roles in 2020, according to LinkedIn.
Social media-related roles showed some of the highest growth and one of the most balanced gender hiring, with 51:49 female to male ratio.
The top skills were in influencer marketing, content strategy, market research and Google Ads. Important to note: the vast majority of these “hires” were self-employed or freelancers.
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UAE salary guide 2021
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
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Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
MATCH INFO
Crawley Town 3 (Tsaroulla 50', Nadesan 53', Tunnicliffe 70')
Leeds United 0
RESULT
Chelsea 2
Willian 13'
Ross Barkley 64'
Liverpool 0
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
