DUBAI // Almost 60 per cent of the UAE’s workforce is employed by local companies, and 75 per cent of graduates opt to start their careers in the UAE, which is driving the country’s economy.
The UAE Economic Graph — whose findings were released on Monday — was built on the data of the country’s three million registered LinkedIn users as part of LinkedIn Economic Graph, a digital mapping of the global economy.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, LinkedIn’s UAE Economic Graph aims to help students decide what qualifications they need to make them more employable.
Dr Ahmad Belhoul, Minister of State for Higher Education Affairs, said the initiative will help university graduates better understand professional opportunities available in the country and globally.
_____
› See the findings here: UAE Economic Graph to aid university graduates in job hunt - graphic
_____
“The Economic Graph will be integral to shaping the higher education landscape in the UAE to ensure that our students are graduating with the skills they need for the jobs of the future,” he said. “The Ministry of Education is responsible for programmes to be delivered to public and private universities, and the absence of an economic graph, certified programmes are based on business plans.
“When we understand, for example, that the market needs more public policy degrees, we are able to inform and guide the universities of the demand from the market and, equally important, what are the skills required.”
Dr Belhoul said he believes in the next few years universities will adapt and will be more focused on the skills that are needed.
Data showed that Civil Engineering, Business Management and Computer Science are the leading degrees for undergraduates in the UAE, while Industrial Engineering, Business Management and Computer Science were the most sought after by post graduates.
Of the 10 most sought-after skills by employers, six were in the tech industry with Statistical Analysis and Data Mining being number one.
Ali Matar, of LinkedIn, said launching the UAE Economic Graph in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Smart Dubai is in line with UAE’s vision to further bolster the country’s economy and with the company’s vision of creating an economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce.
“We are one step closer to realising these goals in the UAE,” he said. “The UAE Economic Graph represents the first Economic Graph to be launched in the Middle East and we plan on rolling out the digital map across the region.
“The findings from the UAE Economic Graph are positive indicators of local economic development and the confidence that UAE citizens have in the UAE as a hub for industry and business.”
Dr Aisha bin Bishr, director general of the Smart Dubai Office, said her company’s collaboration with LinkedIn contributes to a smart economy.
“This innovative in-depth analysis of data aligns with our purpose of maximising happiness for individuals in Dubai,” she said. “By better understanding the UAE economy and pool of talent, we can work together to empower our residents.
“We are happy that the UAE is the first regional market to launch Economic Graph and we look forward to using the data to maximise happiness in the UAE.”
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae