YOUNG EMIRATI WORKERS URGED TO TAKE UP OPPORTUNITIES IN PRIVATE SECTOR
▶ It is vital for the country that more young people find work outside the Government. But the perks of earning a living from the state remain persuasive, writes Nawal Al Ramahi
Preparing Emirati students for employment and encouraging them to pursue opportunities in the private sector is vital to the country’s growth, said Nasser Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
More than 1,000 Emirati students attended a three-day employment forum at the Dubai World Trade Centre this week, organised by the ministry, where dozens of training workshops were held and internships were on offer.
“The ministry has been implementing a package of policies and programmes to train and qualify Emiratis to enter the job market,” Mr Al Hamli said. “Educating students about future occupations and preparing them to deal with future changes is vital.”
Among those changes is the move towards greater use of artificial intelligence.
Marwan Khalid, an Emirati student at the Religious Institute for Secondary Education, attended the first day of the forum on Monday. He plans to become an engineer with a focus on AI.
“The purpose behind studying engineering and artificial intelligence is adapting to the rapid changes in the world,” he said. “The field of artificial intelligence is going forward. Therefore, adapting to changes is a must.
“Many experts in future careers have talked about the need to embrace AI in our studies and think about how the world is changing,” Mr Khalid said.
He expects to be paid more than Dh25,000 a month after he graduates and is keen on working in the private sector.
“Majoring in engineering and artificial intelligence will be of great benefit for the country. I attended the forum to learn about job interviews and know how the field I am choosing will be beneficial to the private sector,” he said.
Mada Masoud, 21, a student at Zayed University, is also keen to explore opportunities in the private sector. “Although I expect to face some challenges in the private sector, I prefer to get a job in a private organisation where I can explore my potential. Working in the private sector allows us to gain more experience and polish our skills. Also, it enables employees to get promoted gradually.”
She said some Emiratis still preferred to work with the government, particularly if their relatives also worked there. But the government sector can’t provide job opportunities for all young Emiratis, she said.
Mohammed Faisal, a student at the Higher Colleges of Technology, is studying aviation engineering, and also believes the private sector offers more opportunities for career growth.
“The future lies in working in the private sector, especially in 2020. There are opportunities to further our skills,” the 21-year-old said.
But for some of the students who attended the forum, the advantages of working for the public sector cannot be ignored. Fatima Mohammed, a senior student at the Higher Colleges of Technology, said that having experienced work in the private sector, she would rather work for the government.
The 24-year-old previously worked as a data inserter at Tasheel where, depending on employee productivity, they would receive a bonus. She said she expects to earn a monthly salary between Dh10,000 and Dh15,000.
“Working in the private sector has positive and negative sides. In the private sector, the harder the person works, the more money they get. However, the private sector has fewer holidays than the government sector,” she said.
Dr Hussain Majid, is director of human resources and administration at Taweelah B power and desalination complex, where 40 per cent of the 238 employees are Emirati.
Dr Majid said that said young Emiratis are more likely to enter government jobs because they offer a sense of security and stability. But he said the pay disparity was a misconception.
“The salary expected for new Emirati graduates is about Dh25,000. However, salaries for new graduate engineers in the private sector might reach Dh40,000.
“It is not always about salary. It depends on the major and sector those young Emiratis are specialised in,” he said.
The Government has made efforts to shift attitudes about the private sector, he said, such as the nationwide drive for companies to prioritise Emiratis over expatriates announced last month where the ministry selected 400 job titles of positions at 2,000 companies that it wants to see Emiratis given the opportunity to fill.
Dr Majid said the preference for government work was still strong among Emiratis. “Preferring a job in the government sector is rooted deep in UAE society due to the flexible nature of the job,” he said.
“While career progression in the private sector is more common.
“Companies in the private sector have a clear plan about employees and what they can achieve in the future, unlike in the government sector because of the enormous number of employees.”