There is a fundamental shift in the way we work. Automation and robotics are replacing human tasks and altering the skills that organizations seek in their employees. So, how will the future of work look?
The labor market is rapidly changing at both local and international levels, making it difficult to choose a profession or job at a time of increasing difficulty and complexity in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has changed the rules of the game in the future job market.
To keep up with the new conditions, especially in achieving the country’s vision and strategies for the next ten years, people must develop their skills to find a place for themselves in the labor market.
In this context, we examine the emerging jobs that will dominate the future of work in the Arab region, particularly in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, to help people understand the path they must take.
UAE investing in HR
The Fourth Industrial Revolution has imposed a new reality full of opportunities and, challenges. On the one hand, it will create new job categories that did not previously exist and on the other, it will eliminate many traditional jobs. We will need to acquire new skills to keep up with the tremendous technological development that the world is witnessing.
According to a World Economic Forum report, administrative and executive secretarial jobs, data entry, accounting, accounting records management, and payroll services in the UAE will be extinct by 2025.
Scientific jobs, data analysis, marketing, digital strategy, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, on the other hand, will be at the top of the list of the most prominent rising jobs during the next few years
Five axes are driving the future of jobs and skills in the world, according to the Future Skills 2030 report released by Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, including massive technological progress that will open new horizons primarily in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, advanced manufacturing, and virtual reality, augmented reality, big data, and big data analytics.
In this context, the UAE is taking various initiatives to invest in its human resources and provide its youth with the skills they will need to meet future challenges and fulfill the primary goals of the UAE Vision 2021 and the UAE Centennial 2071..
By establishing the principle of lifelong learning and adopting advanced automation technologies, the UAE has developed an advanced skills strategy that aims to create and develop human capital, as well as direct the national cadre toward future skills, to be able to adapt to expected changes in the labor market and turn challenges into opportunities.
Saudi labor market
Saudi Arabia intends to diversify the economy and national income sources during the implementation of its “Vision 2030” Plan, rather than solely relying on oil.
The following are some of the new jobs in Saudi Arabia.
Information technology
Information technology professions are now among the most desirable jobs in the oil-rich kingdom.
Saudi Arabia plans to increase global investments in advanced fields like computer science and programming, information security, networks, electronic and mechanical engineering, and other fields ahead of the global digital revolution.
Private business sector
These jobs derive from knowledge of economics, accounting, finance, business administration, marketing, commercial law, and sales management. So, we advise young people to focus on these fields to secure good job opportunities over the next decade.
The financial sector
Saudi Arabia views the financial sector and banking professions as one of the most significant fields for developing the economy and addressing economic challenges and future difficulties.
Banking jobs are in high demand because they increase savings, investments, and other assets. Therefore, young people should be encouraged to study finance, economics, finance, investing, mathematics, and accounting in this regard.
Education sector
Saudi Arabia is working to educate and train young people utilizing the most up-to-date educational and pedagogical technology, which will help shape the future of new generation
Renewable and clean energy
The world has recently turned to renewable energy production, which includes solar and wind energy. It is ideal for Saudi Arabia due to its abundance of energy sources. This creates demand for the people who have studied nuclear, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering.
Mining sector
Saudi Arabia contains many valuable metals such as gold, silver and others such as aluminum, phosphate, and copper. This is one of the areas where the government will concentrate its efforts in the future. As a result, there are various job prospects in these sectors, which require geology, geophysics, and mining engineering skills.