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local populations. In Saudi Arabia, the
dependence on expats has led to 10% of
nationals being out of work.
Yet there are many factors that make this a
complex problem to solve. The region has
not seen the level of skills transfer it had
hoped for. Employers say that skills gaps are
still a major impediment to business growth
and several countries fall below the global
average in finding skilled employees.
The social and cultural impact of a transitory
migrant community is another cause for
concern for Gulf state authorities, who wish
to preserve local values. Foreign workers also
take money out of the economy when they
send their earnings home.
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FEATURE: ANALYTICS
Despite these concerns, it’s important to
note that the Gulf states depend on labour
mobility and capacity building to attract
foreign investment and underpin the local
economy. Expats can accelerate the transfer
of skills if managed well and help meet
quotas in the short term.
Know your organisation in
analytical detail before you
start upskilling
Underlying the issues is the fact that
most companies do not have a clear
understanding of their workforce. They lack
an inventory of skills, detailed knowledge
of the work being done and the costs
associated with each activity. This lack of
Rob Amor, Senior Vice President – Global
Channels at Concentra Analytics
INTELLIGENTCIO
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