Middle East and North Africa – Bridging the Skills Gap

OFFICIALS hope a regional labour market study will help identify how to empower Bahrainis working in the private sector.

Many are keen to bridge the gap between their qualifications and job requirements, according to the preliminary findings of a new research conducted by global human resources company Aon Hewitt.

Said to be the largest study of its kind in the region, it took the views of more than 20,000 employees from Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Egypt with the aim of understanding what drives and motivates talent in the region.

Aon Hewitt’s applied research head for Middle East and North Africa Radhika Punshi said the study threw up many counterintuitive findings that challenged regular preconceptions of employers about local talent.

“Among the most unexpected findings were that Bahraini nationals reported lower levels of engagement in the public sector than they did in the private sector and that less than half had confidence in the most senior leadership in their respective organisations,” she said.

Bahrainis reported a growing disconnect between job requirements and their education, compared to foreign workers.

Motivation

“In addition, Bahraini nationals continue to report lower levels of work engagement than expatriates, which could impact their longer term motivation, performance and productivity at the workplace,” said Ms Punshi.

“As Bahrain’s and the region’s economy continues to recover, there will be a renewed and exponential growth focus on attracting, motivating and retaining top talent within all industrial sectors, with a greater emphasis on quality.

“However, more than ever before, there is a greater urgency for alignment and collaboration between the education system and the demand from employers, as an increasing number of young men and women seek opportunities for positive and productive employment.”…

via Gulf Daily News » Local News » Bridging the gap.