A flexible work environment is crucial. While many Emiratis prefer staying close to home, offering remote and flexible work options is key to expanding opportunities and attracting talent across all emirates. M A K I N G E M I R AT I S AT I O N A S U C C E S S 2 0 2 5 - G U I D E B O O K 4 0 What Are The Major Challenges You Face In Finding A Role? - Jobseekers *MULTIPLE SELECTION APPLY* What Is Your Biggest Challenge When Recruiting UAE National Staff? - Employers Unrealistic salary expectations and a shortage of suitable candidates remain the top challenges for private sector employers when recruiting UAE National staff, with both concerns cited by 28.47% of respondents. While the percentage facing salary expectation issues has decreased from last year’s 37.81%, it still highlights a gap between candidate expectations and employer offerings. Similarly, the talent shortage remains a concern, suggesting a continued need for skill development and alignment with industry demands. Other notable challenges include a lack of technical competencies (13.40%) and difficulty in reaching local talent (10.53%). Employer verbatim responses highlight concerns such as candidates seeking shorter work hours and a preference for a five-day workweek, particularly in industries like construction that require longer shifts. A majority of UAE National job seekers (59.05%) continue to struggle with finding roles that align with their skills and career aspirations, though this marks a slight improvement from last year’s 64%. Salary expectations remain a key concern, with 51.43% of respondents indicating difficulty in finding roles that meet their financial expectations — an increase from last year’s 40%. Communication with potential employers has become less of a challenge, with 30.10% of job seekers highlighting it as a concern compared to 42.67% last year. Similarly, fewer candidates (27.54%) find the assessment process too lengthy, down from 34%. 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 6 0 N OT F I N D I N G A R O L E T H AT I S A R I G H T F I T F O R M E 5 9 . 0 5 % 5 1 . 4 3 % 4 5 . 9 7 % 3 0 .1 0 % 2 7. 5 4 % N OT F I N D I N G A R O L E T H AT M ATC H E S M Y S A L A R Y E X P E C TAT I O N S COMMUNICATION WITH POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS LENGTHY ASSESSMENT PROCESS Challenges and Support in Employment 10.53% 28.47% 28.47% 8 . 6 1 % 1 0 . 5 3 % 1 3 . 4 0 % U N R E A L I S T I C S A L A R Y R E Q U I R E M E N T S L AC K O F T E C H N I C A L C O M P E T E N C I E S C O M P E T I T I O N F R O M OT H E R E M P LOY E R S S H O R TAG E O F S U I TA B L E C A N D I DAT E S U N A B L E TO R E AC H LO C A L TA L E N T OT H E R M A K I N G E M I R AT I S AT I O N A S U C C E S S 2 0 2 5 - G U I D E B O O K 4 1