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OUTSIZED REVEALS THE SKILLS MOST IN DEMAND IN THE MENA REGION IN 2024
The need for agility , cost flexibility and access to critical skills became increasingly important in the 2023 talent landscape . As a result , Outsized , a leading on-demand talent platform in the Middle East , Asia Pacific and Africa , has seen a surge of demand for independent skilled talent from enterprises moving to more agile and flexible workforce models . Findings from its third annual Talent-On- Demand 2024 report , based on proprietary data collected from Outsized ’ s platform , revealed the MENA region as one of the fastest growing freelance economies , with 142 % growth in freelancer registrations from 2022 .
Leading companies in MENA , APAC and Africa are now actively implementing agile workforce models to swiftly adapt to market fluctuations and unforeseen challenges . The MENA region , with a focus on diversifying oil dependency into a knowledge and skills economy , is witnessing a remarkable increase in freelance talent demand , diverging from the global downturn seen in the US and Europe . This surge spans sectors such as IT , banking , finance , real estate , construction , energy and hospitality , showcasing a vibrant employment arena for skilled professionals .
Summarising thousands of data points , the Talent-On-Demand 2024 report identifies the top skills in demand as evidenced by MENA enterprises that have used Outsized . This market is witnessing a diversified demand in response to an influx of major projects like NEOM in KSA and open immigration policies from countries like the UAE . Unlike the global trend where technology and data analysis dominate , the MENA region shows a broader scope , including finance , risk and areas like product and proposition , sales , marketing and change management . In 2024 , new macro trends such as Environmental Social Governance and sustainability , data analytics and procurement are expected to rise in importance , which will further accelerate demand for local and international skilled independent talent .
Outsized ’ s report also reveals that the on-demand talent pool in the MENA region boasts the highest average expertise , at 10.1 years , outperforming the larger APAC and Africa regions . The report also highlights that day rates for MENA professionals stand at US $ 309 , ranking third behind Southeast Asia ( US $ 544 ) and Africa at ( US $ 316 ).
Azeem Zainulbhai , Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Outsized , said : “ In high-growth markets like MENA , more businesses are recognising the value of agility and specialised expertise that on-demand skilled professionals provide . At Outsized , we ’ ve developed the infrastructure to efficiently connect skilled talent with leading organisations and this year saw an increasing number of the region ’ s companies leverage our platform to access this international talent pool .
“ This change highlights the fading myth that the gig economy is reserved for low skill or low value talent , signalling a strategic transition towards a more data-informed and technology-focused business environment . Our commitment through initiatives like the Talent-On- Demand report is to foster a sustainable independent talent market , driven by values that support both businesses and professionals in becoming future-proof .” x
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