Global specialist recruitment company, PageGroup, has indicated that the retail sector is the most rapidly expanding sector in the Middle East for Q3 and Q4 2014.
The PageGroup Middle East Salary Guide revealed an increasing demand for talent in the retail sector, especially in buying and merchandising, training, brand management, designing, accounting and marketing.
Adam Cole, operating director at Michael Page Retail and Digital said: “Throughout the past six months in particular, we have witnessed a high number of local and multinational organisations vying for retail specialist talent with particular demand in luxury, fashion, beauty and food and beverage.
“With digital rapidly emerging as a sales channel in the Middle East we are seeing many clients sourcing talent across user-experience, social media and classic digital marketing and we are regularly tapping into the international talent pool to bolster the local market,” said Mr Cole.
In addition to growth in the retail and digital markets, Leith Ramsay, regional director at Michael Page Property & Construction, says that government investments in infrastructure have also resulted in property market candidates as highly sought after in the region.
“There is demand across the full spectrum; developers, clients, consultancies, contractors and facilities management. As major infrastructure projects continue to be delivered, all asset classes are in high demand, particularly hotels.
“We are seeing a major preference for candidates with experience in the Middle East, which in turn causes salary expectations to increase for locally based candidates who have remained in the region during the downturn and have delivered actual projects to completion,” said Mr Ramsay.
The Salary Guide also indicated that financial services will expect a significant salary increase, highlighted by Ryan Lewis, director of Michael Page Finance.
“The financial services industry continues to be a robust sector with both regional banks continuing to grow and international financial institutions selectively hiring across asset management and corporate banking, compliance, risk and coverage bankers - all are skill-sets which are still very much in demand in the Middle East.
“Since PageGroup Middle East opened its first office in the region in 2006, the company has doubled in size each year and is the largest and most geographically diverse professional recruiter in the Middle East,” said Mr Lewis.