Recruitment in the UAE sees increase in June following Covid-19 slump

Hiring activity has jumped significantly in the UAE since the beginning of June, following a 50% plunge due to the Covid-19 crisis, according to a new survey.

Recruitment levels, however, remain well below those seen before the closure of schools in early March, with logistical constraints brought about by the pandemic slowing down the hiring process, according to the latest research from Middle East recruitment firm GulfTalent.

The survey said salary expectations have reduced dramatically – to switch to a new employer within the UAE, job applicants on GulfTalent demanded a median salary increase of just 2 percent in April, down sharply from 14 percent in February.

In addition, one in four UAE-based applicants in April were willing to accept a new job that paid less than their previous position.

Of the sectors worst affected, recruitment in marketing sector in the UAE plummeted 72 percent in April, compared to back in February, while hiring activity for teachers fell by 60 percent, according to the latest research from Middle East recruitment firm GulfTalent.

Demand for candidates in sales, customer service and HR fell by over 50 percent over the period; admin, operations and general management witnessed drops of around 40 percent each; while IT, finance and engineering roles saw the smallest drops in demand, at less than 30 percent.

Medical professionals were the only segment enjoying an increase in demand compared to the pre-Covid period, receiving 18 percent more interview invitations in April than in February.

According to the data, following the initial steep decline during March, hiring activity reached its lowest level in early April after the introduction of nationwide lockdowns. Activity improved slightly during May, with the exception of the Eid period which historically sees a marked slowdown each year.