After months of economic instability caused by the pandemic, we are finally seeing signs of recovery. In May, the Emirate added about 248,000 jobs spanning retail, e-commerce, and IT. According to global study, 73% of UAE enterprises were already paying compensation packages that were similar to or better than pre-pandemic at the end of last year.

We’ve seen public and private groups come together, innovate, and thrive. Regional firms must continue to restructure their organizations, digitize processes, and upskill personnel as the Covid dust settles around us. Here are five indicators that things are about to improve.

Labor marketplaces are becoming more globalized.
If local talent is able to look for work elsewhere, it has ramifications for employers and how they recruit and retain people. In determining where individuals work and where companies hire, geography is no longer a factor. Overall, this is good news for employees and employers because it allows for more sustainable, egalitarian, and flexible employment, as well as preventing elite talent from being concentrated in a few successful hubs.

There are a lot of digital employment available.
Automation, according to 37% of UAE workers, is a greater threat now than it was pre-pandemic. Technology is hastening change and transition, resulting in the loss of jobs and the creation of new knowledge and skill demands. This is particularly troubling for lower-skilled workers, who have historically been among the first to be displaced.

Because of the flexibility of timing and curriculum, retraining through online learning is a viable option. This is especially true in a location like the GCC, which has a high internet penetration rate and a well-developed telecommunications infrastructure.

The National Program for Coders in the United Arab Emirates is not leaving the outcome of automation to chance. The program is the latest in a long line of similar initiatives in the country. Its goal is to generate jobs for coders, not just jobs for coders.

The government is optimistic that the program will inspire a new generation of tech entrepreneurs and experts, allowing the industry to grow and create more jobs.

Concerns about diversity
In the new remote-working world, underrepresented groups in the workforce will have greater professional prospects, especially if they are willing to reskill and upskill. Employers in recovery mode are interested in untapped portions of the labor pool as a way to shore up their internal capabilities. Individuals will be able to reclaim a foothold in the job market by using flexible, online entry-level work pathways, particularly for digital skills.

For example, the Google IT Support Certificate, which does not require prior experience or a college diploma, is assisting students in preparing for entry-level IT support positions in as little as three to six months.

Learners can focus on important skills and become relevant in weeks or months rather than years by understanding what businesses are looking for.

More women with STEM skills are needed.
According to the 2021 WEF Global Gender Gap report, the UAE has made significant progress in gender equality, closing 71.6 percent of gender inequalities and climbing 48 places in the Gender Gap Index from 120 to 72 in a single year.

Women in the UAE are pursuing online learning at higher rates than before the epidemic, according to Coursera’s newest Women and Skills Report, with STEM course enrollments among women jumping from 32% in 2019 to 37% in 2021. Women in the UAE are investing in STEM skills such as probability and statistics (70,000 enrollments), data analysis (60,000), and machine learning (50,000).

Women will be able to gain new skills and boost their representation in technology if they have access to flexible, job-relevant education, especially in light of concerns that the epidemic is having a disproportionate impact on women’s jobs around the world.

Collaboration between institutions
Businesses, governments, and educators working together in new and unprecedented ways will aid in the creation of accessible pathways to high-growth, entry-level positions, as well as increased economic growth. Through efforts like the National Program for Coders, companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook are partnering with the UAE government in this way. Businesses are enlisting the help of a diversified and global talent pool to help them succeed in new markets.

Upskilling communities and connecting learners to jobs is helpful to the larger society and helps economic growth for governments.

It was not a dream.
The world of employment has reached a crossroads. We have the chance to make significant improvements that will benefit employees. Creating flexible avenues to skilling and well-paying remote jobs is a critical component. This is an issue on which I’m personally focused, and I’d like to invite corporate leaders from around the UAE to play a key role in designing an inclusive future.