Employers urged to invest more in going digital to connect with potential employees
As many professionals consider changing employers this year, organisations offering some form of flexibility are likely to win the talent war. These are the findings of Bayt.com after surveying 7,591 respondents in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in a bid to give employers a glimpse of the current job market trends. According to the report, 85% of the respondents said they prefer companies that allow remote work all or some of the time. This is a slight increase from the 83% of professionals who want companies offering remote work in 2022.
Ola Haddad, Director of Human Resources at Bayt.com, previously said this shows how flexibility is no longer seen as an extra benefit. “In fact, flexibility is now a minimum requirement as job seekers look for their next career opportunity,” Haddad said in a media release last year. The findings come as this year’s report found that 91% are considering changing jobs this year, with 85% expecting remote hiring to increase in the next few months. “There is an observable shift in the MENA region’s job market tendencies. Our latest survey provides data on how job seekers are adapting and thriving in the face of these emerging trends,” Haddad commented on this year’s report.
Changing job practices
Meanwhile, the report also found the growing impact of digitalisation on the behaviours of many jobseekers. Over three in 10 respondents (36%) revealed that among the crucial parts of the job-seeking journey includes looking for opportunities online. More than half of the respondents (53%) also said they have become very familiar with conducting video interviews at the hiring process. They also continue to prefer using email (41%) and online job sites (38%) as the primary communication avenue when connecting with an employer. The findings underscore that organisations need to invest more on going digital to find and engage with potential candidates who are looking for their next suitable organisation. “Employers must also keep these trends in mind to remain competitive, whereas job seekers should focus on developing the necessary skills and harnessing digital tools to stay relevant and successful in a more balanced and future-ready work environment,” Haddad said.
