Dubai: Ninety per cent of Emirati jobseekers prefer visibility on the salary range in employment postings, and 77 per cent are interested in learning more about an organisation’s non-monetary benefits. These factors gain greater prominence over job title and the location of the company among Emiratis seeking employment in the private and public sectors.
Recruitment company Michael Page released these insights on Emirati jobseeker sentiments on Tuesday as part of their annual Emiratisation Salary Guide and Hiring Insights 2023, a reference guide for recruiters and jobseekers.
The guide shows that almost six in 10 (59 per cent) applicants consider a job title as an essential element of a job listing, followed by salary (59 per cent) and location (41 per cent).
Last year saw the most vigorous push on Emiratisation across the UAE. As per guidelines, effective January 1, companies with more than 50 employees are required to ensure that 2 per cent of their employees are Emirati, increasing to 4 per cent by January 1, 2024. Failure to comply will result in various financial and legal penalties outlined by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).
No lengthy forms, please
Regarding factors that limit the completion of an application, 39 per cent of respondents said they wouldn’t apply for a role if they felt under/overqualified for it. Nineteen per cent of respondents said that they wouldn’t apply for a position if it involved filling out long forms.
Other factors that prevent candidates from submitting their applications include poor company reputation (30 per cent), salary (29 per cent), and an unstructured job listing (25 per cent).
At least 61 per cent of respondents also give immense importance to the leadership capabilities of their managers, followed by communication and respect. In line with the overarching trend in the UAE job market, over 72 per cent of respondents prefer to integrate a hybrid model into their professional lives, said Samantha Wright, Emiratisation Lead at Michael Page UAE.
She said: “Research shows that businesses venturing into Emiratisation for the first time are mostly progressing with a bottom-up talent approach. Those close to achieving their quota continue to develop their Emiratisation strategy with a combination of entry roles and senior roles mainly in human resources and finance.”
Salary guide
The survey’s salary guide covers various industry disciplines, including banking and financial services, human resources, legal, marketing, procurement and supply chain, and technology and data. Salaries in Abu Dhabi are considerably higher than those offered in Dubai. Here are some salaries Emirati jobseekers can expect in the private and public sectors:
Finance and Accounting
CFO in Abu Dhabi: Dh70,000 to Dh150,000
CFO in Dubai: Dh65,000 to Dh130,000
Accountant in Abu Dhabi: Dh18,000 to Dh28,000
Accountant in Dubai: Dh18,000 to Dh25,000
Finance manager in Abu Dhabi (public sector): Dh48,000 to Dh72,000
Finance manager in Dubai (public sector): Dh35,000 to Dh60,000
Human Resources
Head of HR / Director in Abu Dhabi: Dh55,000 to Dh80,000
Head of HR / Director in Dubai: Dh40,000 to Dh78,000
HR specialist (3+ years’ experience) in Abu Dhabi: Dh24,000 to Dh34,000
HR specialist (3+ years’ experience) in Dubai: Dh24,000 to Dh30,000
Marketing
Marketing manager in Abu Dhabi: Dh30,000 to Dh45,000
Marketing Manager in Dubai: Dh25,000 to Dh40,000
