Employed UAE Nationals seeking better career prospects create artificial unemployment rate, says ENDP Director

Speaking at the Ramadan majlis organized by the Dubai Press Club, Al Sharhan addressed a range of issues on Emiratisation and highlighted the private sector's responsibility to employ more UAE nationals based on their job requirements, qualifications, skills and interests.

Substantiating her statement, Al Sharhan said: "Out of the 10,000 UAE nationals registered with ENDP, nearly 4,000 are already employed even if seeking better prospects. It's unfortunate the names of nearly 1,000 UAE nationals had to be removed from our database, having failed to attend more than four interviews."

She added: "Although the private sector has begun implementing the mandatory quota system of allocating up to four per cent jobs for the UAE nationals, most of these positions are not aligned with appropriate job descriptions or career growth mapping. This has resulted in large scale resignations. Additionally, the disparity between the scope of work and the qualifications of the nationals has led to demotivation and more resignations."

Al Sharhan emphasised the primary reason for graduates' inability to find suitable jobs is not due to the weakness of the academic system, but due to the lack of specialised education and the failure of universities and colleges to offer vocational guidance.

She pointed out: "The graduates of the Higher Colleges of Technology, for instance, are eligible to enter the labour market as they possess the necessary skills. However, they lack the specialisation that businesses in the UAE require. So when they are recruited, the jobs have often led them to positions for which they are not qualified."

The Ramadan majlis also saw the unveiling of a new ENDP programme offering professional career guidance to students with the affiliation of various universities and colleges. "These courses will enable UAE nationals seek suitable career paths and close the gap in the UAE labour market," Al Sharhan revealed.

Underlining the specific demand for locals in the media, freight and insurance sectors, she challenged: "Why aren't UAE nationals as prominent in the private sector as they are in the government sector? With so many new investments by the private sectors, there are continuous job vacancies that need to be filled. I encourage the UAE nationals to take these opportunities and excel in their careers."

So far, ENDP has facilitated the recruitment of nearly 2,400 UAE nationals in the private sector. It is currently working on a new programme that will see professional career advisors monitoring the progress of recent recruits during their first six months of employment. The counsellors will offer guidance to the employee and the employer to ensure both meet their respective objectives.