More than half of the job applicants in the UAE are prioritising a company's mental health policy to decide whether they want to work for them.

According to Michael Page’s 2022 Salary & Hiring Insights Guide, about a fifth of the participants in the survey said they are experiencing a greater sense of pressure in work amid the prevailing circumstances.

UAE's employment landscape is also shifting in favour of job applicants and employees to boost their skills and expertise. Notably, about 98 percent of surveyed candidates expressed confidence in having the right skills and expertise needed for today’s market.

Furthermore, this shift has been strengthened by the UAE's positive market sentiment which has been supported by a significant rise in both GDP and inflation. The UAE also positively motivated this shift through its successful COVID-19 vaccination programme across the country and surge in tourism facilitated by Expo 2020 Dubai.

Speaking about the development, Jon Ede, regional director at PageGroup Middle East, hailed the successful launch of the grand Expo 2020 Dubai, supported by the UAE’s proactive handling of the pandemic. Several government initiatives facilitate a swift return of public and investors' confidence in the UAE market, resulting in a robust recovery of the UAE economy.

Taking note of the renewed sense of confidence and positive market outlook, employees and job candidates are also re-evaluating their demands and expectations from their employers.

“A catalyst for change, the pandemic has cemented a long-term impact on the world of work as we knew it. Never has it been more important to understand what attracts, motivates and helps retain talent – understanding these aspects should influence any organisations’ hiring management strategy moving forward,” Ede added.

In addition, a recent Mercer report pointed out that only two in five HR professionals have the skills and expertise needed by their organisation. On the other hand, only 9 percent of companies formally monitor the changes in market demand and availability of skills.

Notably, today's generation of job applicants is evaluating the market shifts to ensure that their value is enhanced in line with the rapidly changing job market. About 84 percent of applicants are actively looking for their skills gap and 43 percent upgraded their skills after thorough comparison to the market requirements.

The report also suggests that 27 percent of those surveyed stated that their last managers did not talk about training at all, 25 percent of them said they considered it optional. According to the report, employees are the ones who actively worked towards developing their skills in accordance with the market and company demands.

In current times, at 66 percent, job applicants are highly active in learning new skills. They are seeking a sense of fulfilment in their professional lives. Almost 58 percent are aiming to work for a company with a strong purpose.

The report also stated that employers are becoming increasingly comfortable in working with different teams and employees are looking for flexible working opportunities. At least eight in 10 (85 percent) candidates noted that they have been able to fulfil their tasks and responsibilities remotely, while 32 percent suggested no change in their work-life balance.

Responding to questions related to the impact of remote work on their salaries and benefits, a majority (41 percent) felt there was no connection between benefits, salaries, and remote work.

Job applicants are also looking for their employers to enhance communication skills to better manage time and task planning (50 percent). About 49 percent are seeking employers who are more flexible regarding work arrangements and 48 percent are aiming to create some wellbeing initiatives. 37 percent of them are looking for employee recognition programmes in the company.