Article: Talent Trends in the Middle East: Takeaways for 2025

Shifting employee priorities, economic challenges, and technological advances have driven the evolution of the workplace in 2024. Data from Ford's Trends 2024 Report and Deloitte's 13th Gen Z and Millennial Survey highlight key trends shaping the global workforce, especially in the Middle East. A good summary to frame the question is this statement: As the workforce seeks meaninful work, valuable relations, and a improved quality of life, organisatons must rethink their HR strategies to meet these expectations - an approach with multiple benefits like talent attraction, retention, building a valuable work culture, as well as drives innovation and resilience.

What does talent in Middle Eastern workplaces seek?

In 2024, Middle Eastern workforce is redefining success at work, emphasising connection, balance, and purpose over traditional achievement measures. This sentiment resonates strongly in the Middle East, where 77 per cent of workers—predominantly from older generations—express the need for meaningful relationships and roles, according to Ford’s report. These values are reshaping how work is approached, as employees seek opportunities that align with their personal values and life goals.

A willingness to prioritise well-being over income reflects this shift. Why so? Because, 62 per cent of the Middle Eastern workers are ready to take pay cuts, as higher as 20 per cent but would not compromise on their work-life balance. If you see globally, this shift outpaces the average, which stands at 52 per cent. Interestingly, older generations particularly are backing this shift. For example, Boomers in the region avoid any work that would spike their stress levels. These findings are important because it shows a growing demand for a work culture that supports, is flexible, and allows employees to balance their personal committments while not affecting their professional productivity.

Self-care has also emerged as a cornerstone of workplace satisfaction. A rising concern is that over 60 per cent of the employees in the region report anxiety episodes at least once a week. And the most suffering generations are - Baby Boomers with 77 per cent, and Gen X with 68 per cent. And with the ongoing uncertainties at global level, over 89 per cent of the workforce today value inner peace more than ever, underscoring an urgent need for practices that foster resilience, such as digital detoxing, prioritising personal needs, and eliminating toxic relationships.

When it comes to technology, particularly AI, talent is seeing it as a 'friend' in the workplace. To support this, a report by Ford showed that 80 per cent of Middle Eastern employees hold a positive outlook towards AI’s ability to improve their work-life balance. But a unignorable concern is reflected i.e. data transparency and ethical usage. This concern was echoed by over 75 per cent of employees in the region, as they wished for transparent disclosure when AI is embedded in products and services.

How younger employees are redefining workplace trends in the Middle East?

The year 2024 also witnessed the rising influence of younger workers in the workplace, i.e., Gen Z and the youngest millennials, whom Nabil Almessabi termed 'Zillenials. These younger employees will continue to drive workplace trends i.e. prioritising purpose, environmental responsibility, and most importantly - flexibility. A fact that Nabil also underlined, "We should not view generational differences as problems but as opportunities that brings fresh perspectives in the workplace. It's essential to know what Zillennials bring in to the workplace, understand their needs, and integrate their values in to our work culture."

To understand what younger workers want in the workplace, refer to research and surveys. Consider external surveys if you feel internal ones may be biased or lack transparency. For example, a survey report from Deloitte found that over 80 per cent of Zillennials consider a sense of purpose very important for job satisfaction. However, this value-driven mindset has its own setbacks in the real world. How? It will require employers to differentiate themselves and demonstrate what values talent will gain if they accept the job offer. If employers fail to do so, they will likely see a decline in job offer acceptance, as nearly 50 per cent of Zillennials remain committed to their purpose-driven beliefs, particularly in sustainability and inclusivity.

For younger talent, environmental issues consistently top their priority list, with nearly 60 percent of Zillennials remaining anxious about dramatic climate change. For them, it is a crisis that urgently needs attention and preventive action. As a result, nearly 50 percent of Zillennials prefer job roles that prioritise efforts to resolve environmental concerns. What's more, Zillennials are pressuring businesses to adopt greener practices in their corporate policies.

Another non-negotiable priority for younger workers in the Middle East is - Flexibility in work arrangements. This is no news that Zillenials favour hybrid or remote working models, as well as, alternative schedules like four-day workweeks. This demand for flexibility is reshaping recruitment strategies, especially in the Middle East, where companies increasingly tap into a global talent pool to attract specialised skills. Nevertheless, challenges persist, particularly for organisations navigating the transition back to in-office work, with roughly a third of respondents reporting mixed reactions to such policies.

Despite optimism about technology’s potential, these younger generations remain cautious about the impact of AI on the workforce. Frequent AI users appreciate its productivity-enhancing benefits but express concerns over automation's threat to job security and the need for reskilling. How to address these risks? Future-forwards organisations are jumping right into reskilling and GenAI training to future-proof their workforces.

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What opportunities these talent trends offer to the Middle Eastern employers?

The Middle East, with its rapid economic growth and major projects like NEOM in Saudi Arabia, is a growing hub for talent. While the global focus is on technology and data, the region has a wider demand for skills in finance, risk management, sales, as well as, sustainability efforts.

The region is also witnessing a shift away from oil dependency towards a knowledge-based economy. This has given a surge in gig work, especially in IT, finance, real estate, and energy sectors. The gulf nations particularly, with relaxed immigration policies and economic reforms, are leading this transformation. Interestingly, employers in the region are now including ESG considerations a crucial part of their recruitment strategies, further demanding talent with green skills.

Conclusion: As the Middle Eastern workforce seeks value-aligned job roles, organisations also face a challenge- balancing traditions with innovation. But, meaningful work, flexible policies, and responsible AI and tech usage become paramount to meet these evolving talent needs in 2025 and beyond.