Examining the Nexus Between Higher Education and Employment Amongst Youth in the UAE

• In Event: Evolving Workforce Pathways: Reconceptualizing Graduate Employment in Higher Education

Proposal

In the post-oil era, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates – have witnessed a notable mismatch in their education systems and the needs of the modern economy (Wiseman, Abdelfattah, & Almassaad, 2016). Across the GCC, there is a marked disconnect between government economic policies, private-sector industry, and the offerings of higher education institutions (Nair, 2017), resulting in a workforce that is unprepared for the realities of the modern, globalized economy (Olver-Ellis, 2018). This is highly evident in the UAE, where research has shown that there is a skills gap and educational incompatibility in both the public and private sectors (Goher et al., 2020). However, this discrepancy is not only reflected in the labor market, but also may derive from the career aspirations of UAE youth. For example, one study points out that students are poorly informed about the academic requirements needed to attain their educational aspirations (Ridge et al., 2020), which may exacerbate youth unemployment issues in the country. In fact, the total youth unemployment rate amongst those between the ages of 15 and 24 has nearly doubled since 2016, reaching 10.7% as of 2021 (World Bank, 2022). Despite this significant rise in unemployment, no comprehensive, representative studies have been undertaken at the national level to examine youth’s perceptions regarding their educational preparation for the job market. As such, this study seeks to fill this gap by examining university students’ perceptions and attitudes toward their educational preparedness for labor market participation, focusing specifically on their job orientation, motivation, and overall work philosophy. The study will be informed by a large-scale, representative survey dataset of UAE youth currently enrolled in higher education institutions. The discussion will focus on providing greater insight for educators and policymakers to tailor educational practices to prepare students in higher education for their future professional lives.

References:

Goher, G., Masrom, M., Amrin, A., & Abd Rahim, N. (2020). UAE’s labor market snapshot| skills and educational mismatch during industry 4.0. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering, 8(6), 1332-1340.

Nair, R. D. (2017). Graduate employ ability and educational sector in GCC countries: A macro level study. Asian Journal of Management Sciences and Education, 6(2), 80-99.

Olver-Ellis, S. (2018). “The Governance of the Labour Market: Labour Policies of the Gulf Cooperation Council.” In D. Jones & S. Sahraoui (Eds.), The Future of Labour Market Reform in the Gulf Region: Towards a Multi-disciplinary, Evidence-based and Practical Understanding (pp.8-30). Berlin: Gerlach Press.

Ridge, N., Dingus, D., & Han, S. (2020). Parental Involvement and the Impact of Fathers on the Education and Career Aspirations of Emirati Youth (Policy Paper No. 43). Ras Al Khaimah: Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research.

Wiseman, A, Abdelfattah, F., & Almassaad, A. (2016). “The Intersection of Citizenship Status, STEM Education, and Expected Labor Market Participation in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries.” Digest of Middle East Studies 25 (2): 362-92.

World Bank (2022). “Unemployment, Youth Total (% of Total Labor Force Ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) – United Arab Emirates.” Accessed August 1, 2022. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS?locations=AE.

Authors

• Janaan O Farhat, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research

• Vehbi Emre Tandogan, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research

• Jessica Tsimprea Maluch, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research