HR and Recruitment Jobs Expected to Grow Due to Tourism in Dubai

Human resources and recruitment jobs are responsible for maximizing the return an organization seeks to derive from its workforce. Their roles include facilitating the hiring process, employee performance, employee relations, compensation and benefits, training and development, and behavior management. Many organizations have become more people focused, which means they are seeking to find and retain the highest level of personnel possible. People are now seen as the greatest asset which has made HR and recruitment one of the most important determining factors of success or failure in any organization.

With the stressed importance of human resources and recruitment there has been an increased level of pay and prestige. The job sector is expected to increase along with the competition. The advent of the internet has caused a major shift in the ability of companies to find and recruit top talent. Firms can now advertise a single position to an audience of millions of people with the click of a button.

Dubai’s economy, which has mainly been based on tourism, is now seeking to diversify its economic base by attracting organizations to begin operations in the city. Dubai has set up regions within the city set aside for specific businesses. Regions include Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, which form the larger TECOM (Dubai Technology, Electronic Commerce and Media Free Zone Authority). There is also a Dubai outsourcing zone where companies involved in outsourcing operate. With Dubai’s focus on attracting businesses to the city there is certainly a major increase in demand for HR and recruitment professionals.

Hospitality and Travel Job Growth Forecast in Dubai

The hospitality and travel sector of the economy has exploded into a trillion dollar industry. In America, the economy has shifted from a manufacturing base to a service base, with many of those jobs being hospitality and travel. The world-wide economic downturn has had an effect on the hospitality and travel industry as many travelers and vacationers have tightened up the purse strings. Nevertheless, the sector still is expected to grow at a solid pace throughout the decade.

The hospitality and travel sector is the biggest part of the city’s economy as it has positioned itself as an important tourist destination. Officials have brought in several large construction projects to try and attract tourists. Dubai is home to the world’s tallest building, largest shopping mall, and has a waterfront area that is roughly seven times the size of Manhattan.

Dubai has recently experienced a recession that started around 2005, but is now beginning to come out of it. As countries such as the United States and those in Europe continue to also see economic improvements the Dubai economy is expected to profit as vacationers and business travelers will begin to increase spending. For people seeking to break into the hospitality and travel industry, Dubai provides a unique experience.

Dubai is also focusing on attracting large firms, which has made Dubai one of the fastest growing cities in the world. The influx of permanent residents means that hospitality positions will increase and become permanent rather than seasonal in nature.

The Engineering Job Market in the Face of an Unstable Economy in Dubai

Engineering is a broad discipline and is broken down into many sub-genres. The main engineering disciplines are chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. Advanced technology has opened up the field of engineering to many new subgenres such as aerospace engineering, agricultural engineering, nuclear engineering, software engineering, and genetic engineering. The methodology of engineering uses physics and mathematics to solve complex problems.

Engineering projects vary in size from small to large. Every structure built has been influenced by engineering design. Since engineering touches so many aspects of society the job outlook remains strong and constant compared to other professions. Engineering positions are expected to increase worldwide as developed nations continue to grow and expand. Undeveloped nations also need engineers to help them develop infrastructure and systems to help their countries progress.

Many engineers have been employed in Dubai because of the major construction projects that are occurring there. Dubai is home of several megaprojects including Palm Islands, The World, The Burj Khalifa Complex, and Dubailand. Dubai is home to the world’s largest building, largest shopping mall, and largest manmade island. To put some of the projects into perspective; the Dubai Waterfront is over 2 ½ times the size of Washington D.C.

Even though the Dubai economy has taken a hit since its all-time high in the early 2000’s, there are still several opportunities for engineers who are willing to relocate and who have experience in mechanical and electrical engineering. Engineering will remain one of the most in demand jobs in Dubai.

The Construction Job Market in Dubai and Recent Economic Downturn

Construction projects involve a wide variety of job skills and positions that cross over involve many different sectors of the economy. Construction is simply the process that entails building and assembling infrastructure. Construction projects, whether big or small, require intricate planning from beginning to end and must involve several skilled laborers and managers with diverse skill sets. Construction projects not only involve trades people, but there are also legal teams, financial planners, environmental planners, urban developers, design teams, and procurement specialists.

The construction industry in Dubai has been in the spotlight as the city has taken on several high profile construction projects. Projects include the tallest building in the world known as the Burj Khalifa and the construction of the world’s largest manmade island. Construction is one of the main economic strengths of Dubai and there are currently approximately 250,000 construction laborers who reside in the city.

Construction jobs have recently suffered a downturn due to the economic downturn that many countries, including Dubai, have experienced. Specialty welders, construction managers specializing in large tourist attractions, and architects are the most in demand construction jobs. Even though the Dubai construction industry has experienced a recent downturn, the local government officials have developed financial strategies to diversify the city’s economic base, which will contribute to the number of construction projects starting up. Several publications have rated Dubai as one of the richest cities with the most purchasing power parity in the entire world. A recent influx of IT, biotech, and financial firms have resulted in an increase of construction jobs.

The Banking and Finance Job Sector in Dubai

Banking and finance jobs have come into the spotlight with the recent failures of several large banking institutions and scandals of firms and individuals cheating investors out of billions of dollars. When the United States experiences a deep economic recession such as the current financial crisis, the ripple effect on the economies of other countries is tremendous. One positive aspect of an economic downturn is that the skills and experience of banking and finance professionals are needed more than ever because of their ability to help organizations cut costs and increase profits.

The Dubai economy was largely founded on oil, but now relies heavily on tourism. Many projects such as the world’s tallest building and largest man-made island are attempts to make Dubai a highly desired tourist destination. Dubai has recently experienced an economic decline much like many other countries around the world. The economic struggles have spurred Dubai leaders to take swift action in an attempt to spur economic growth and diversification. City leaders have developed several strategies to attract a wide range of businesses to the city including firms in the biotechnology, aerospace, medical, tourism, IT, and financial fields.

Dubai’s efforts to grow and expand their economic base have resulted in an increase of banking and finance jobs. Individuals who can market themselves as people who can help an organization be more fiscally responsible as well as profitable can quite easily leverage themselves into a lucrative job in the banking and financial industry in Dubai.

The Accounting Job Sector and Outlook in Dubai

The accounting job sector is expected to experience steady growth through the remainder of the decade as businesses are in need of individuals who can accurately reflect the current economic health of an organization. Accountants are also needed for their abilities to supply management with financial forecasts as part of an overall plan to grow and maintain financial stability. With widespread economic scandal breaking out worldwide in many top organizations as well as the global meltdown of banking institutions, organizations are in need of accountants to ensure financial records are compliant and fall within the accepted accounting guidelines.

One positive aspect of financial crisis is that accountants become more important because they are vital at helping organizations become more fiscally responsible. Many businesses are focusing on fiscal conservatism, which makes the qualified accountant an integral part of the organizational team. Many accounting jobs require at least a two-year associate degree, with many requiring a bachelor’s degree.

Much like the rest of the world, Dubai has fallen on difficult economic times within the past few years. Real estate prices have fallen dramatically as many tourist related construction projects have come to a halt. In response to the economic hardships in the construction industry, Dubai officials have set up industry specific zones throughout the region in hopes to attract businesses in the IT, biotechnology, medical, tourism, media, entertainment, and financial fields. The region is attracting many of these types of businesses, which bodes well for accounting professionals looking to live in an exotic, progressive area.