Demand for IT and telecom professionals in the Middle East growing rapidly: Clarendon Parker

Placements in the IT and telecom industry have more than doubled across the company's seven GCC offices between August 2005 and August 2006, according to the Managing Director, Pat Luby.

Market change is considered a primary driver of this increased demand. 'Telecom deregulation in several markets and the emergence of new players is just one of the key developments that has triggered a greater demand for IT and telecom skills,' said Luby.

'Sourcing IT professionals is now more challenging than ever before because new technologies are continuously changing the type of skills required,' he added.

In the increasingly competitive market, companies are looking for professionals that possess technical and business skills. Employers are asking for professionals who combine updated IT skills, sound domain knowledge, communication excellence and managerial expertise.

'Clarendon Parker can help corporates respond effectively to these challenging requirements,' said Luby. 'Our IT recruitment division has grown significantly over the years. We believe this is due to the trust our clients have in our recruitment expertise and the highly professional service we provide. Clarendon Parker currently has over 50,000 registered IT/telecoms candidates and hundreds of IT/telecoms clients,' he added.

Clarendon Parker's recent experience reveals that while demand for IT professionals is rising across all verticals, it has been particularly strong in the engineering and financial sectors. The increasing number of multinationals tapping the region's financial solutions market has sparked of a huge demand for IT professionals with financial domain knowledge.

There has also been a significant increase in the demand for tri-lingual professionals with knowledge of Arabic, English and French. Western-educated professionals with knowledge of Arabic are more in demand than ever before.

Clarendon Parker will be showcasing its staffing solutions at Gitex Dubai 2006 to be held from 18-22 November, 2006. Clarendon Parker will be located at the Dubai Internet City Community Zone in Concourse 2, between Exhibiton Halls 7 and 8 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.