Regional Research Brief
Skills dynamics in the Arab region: New evidence from online vacancy data
This regional research brief examines skills dynamics in selected Arab countries using online vacancy data to shed light on how labour market demands are evolving. It provides evidence to inform skills development and employment policies in the context of structural change in the region.
Key points
- Combining big vacancy data from UNESCWA’s Skills Monitor and the ILO’s skills taxonomy developed for such data, this brief analyses skills dynamics in Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- In the online markets analysed, enterprises demand a range of socio-emotional and cognitive skills and fewer manual skills. Skills are demanded in bundles, combining core and sophisticated cognitive skills, for example, with socio-emotional skills.
- Wage analysis for the UAE suggests a positive association of wages with cognitive skills but not with manual and socio-emotional skills (except for people management skills). Socio-emotional skills are nevertheless important foundational skills.
- In the three countries, there have been shifts towards employment in information and communication technology and service-oriented roles, suggesting opportunities for private-sector growth.
- Such growth opportunities need to be paired with adequate supply-side measures to train workers and reduce skills mismatch.
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Lifelong learning and skills for the future
Lifelong learning and skills for the future
World of Work Series report 2026
Additional details
Author(s)
- Sama El Hage Sleiman
- Hannah Liepmann
- Tia Mokdad