All Gulf
Overview
Online hiring across the Gulf rose 35% year-on-year in August 2026, with the index climbing from 156 to 211. The headline gain needs context. August 2025 was one of the weakest points of the past year, so the comparison overstates the real change in demand. Annual growth peaked at 53% in January, eased to 28% by June and has held at 35% for two months. That suggests the region is settling at a higher level of activity rather than expanding at its early-2026 pace.
Growth is uneven across the region. Of the region’s two largest markets, KSA is now marginally below last year and UAE is 8% lower. Much of the composite gain is coming from Oman, Qatar, Egypt and Bahrain. Every Gulf market except Kuwait, KSA and UAE is ahead of last year.
Three themes run across the markets this month:
Technology is the most consistent source of demand. IT and Telecom is up 30% across the Gulf, 32% in the UAE and 13% in KSA. Software and hardware roles are growing in all three cuts.
Construction is diverging sharply. UAE construction hiring is up 54% on the back of public infrastructure spending. In KSA it is down 13%, as large projects move from mobilisation into execution.
Support functions are weakest in the two largest markets. HR & Admin is down 19% in KSA and 33% in the UAE. Employers in both are investing in specialist and revenue-facing roles while keeping back-office headcount lean.
Industry Trends (YoY)
In demand
IT and Telecom/ISP (+30%) Joint regional leader. Investment in data centres, cloud capacity and AI-ready infrastructure across government and enterprise keeps technical hiring well ahead of last year. The sector is also the largest single source of postings in the region by index level.
Hospitality (+30%) Accelerating, with the index at its highest reading in 13 months. A busy summer travel and events calendar, and continued investment in new hotel and leisure capacity, are sustaining guest-facing hiring well beyond the peak season.
Advertising, MR, PR & Media (+25%) Brand, campaign and content spend is rising as companies compete for consumer attention ahead of the autumn trading season. The sector has stayed in annual growth throughout 2026.
Retail/Trade & Logistics (+16%) Steady consumer demand and the build-out of regional distribution hubs continue to support hiring across warehousing, fulfilment and store operations.
Production/Manufacturing (+13%) Industrial localisation programmes continue to underpin shop-floor and engineering demand across the wider region. KSA and the UAE are both sharply negative, so the composite gain is coming from the smaller markets.
Consumer Goods/FMCG (+13%) A firmer reading than in recent months, tracking steady household spending and expanding modern-trade channels.
Health Care (+10%) New hospitals, specialist clinics and private-sector capacity continue to support hiring across clinical and allied roles.
Facing challenges
Education (−1%) Broadly level with a year ago. Institutional hiring has settled after the expansion of the past two years, with recruitment now focused on replacement rather than new capacity.
BFSI (−4%) Below last year across the composite. BFSI hiring is strong in both KSA and the UAE, so the softness sits in the region’s smaller financial markets.
Engineering, Construction & Real Estate (−6%) Several large real-estate and infrastructure projects have moved past peak hiring. Demand is concentrated in the UAE, while other markets are holding back.
Oil and Gas (−8%) The index is at its lowest point in 13 months. Operators remain selective on upstream spending, and technical hiring has fallen below last year’s level across the smaller producing markets.
Petrochemicals (−9%) The steepest named-industry decline, and negative in every market. Global overcapacity and thin margins continue to weigh on producers despite their cost advantages.
Functional Trends (YoY)
In demand
Customer Service (+42%) The top functional performer by a wide margin, with the index at a 13-month high. Contact-centre and service-delivery hubs are expanding across the wider region. The UAE is an exception, where customer service hiring is falling as automation spreads.
Marketing & Communications (+24%) Rising alongside advertising and media spend, as brand, performance and content teams expand.
Software, Hardware, Telecom (+20%) Growing in every Gulf market covered by the tracker. Demand is concentrated in engineering, infrastructure and product roles that support digital transformation programmes.
Hospitality & Travel (+12%) Tracking the region’s tourism and events calendar, with demand for guest services, travel and events roles still well ahead of last year.
Finance & Accounts (+10%) Tighter compliance requirements, new tax regimes and expanding treasury functions continue to sustain demand for finance professionals.
Moderate growth
HR & Admin (+6%) Modest growth across the composite, in contrast with steep declines in KSA and the UAE. Smaller markets are still building out their corporate support functions.
Sales & Business Development (+6%) Back in growth, as companies resume commercial hiring to support expansion into new markets and segments.
Purchase / Logistics / Supply Chain (+6%) Back in annual growth, supported by investment in regional distribution and trade infrastructure.
Engineering & Production (+5%) Steady but subdued, reflecting the slower pace of project-led hiring in construction and energy.
Legal (+3%) Modest growth, in line with steady demand for compliance, regulatory and contracts roles.
Health Care functions (+3%) Positive, though growing more slowly than the health care sector as a whole. Clinical support hiring is steadier than frontline recruitment.
Saudi Arabia (KSA)
Overview
Saudi Arabia’s hiring market slipped 1% year-on-year in August 2026, with the index at 190 against 192 a year earlier. It is the Kingdom’s first annual decline since late 2025, and the index is at its lowest level since July 2025. Annual growth peaked at around 8% in late 2025 and early 2026 and has narrowed steadily since. The surge in hiring that followed large-scale project mobilisation has largely worked through.
Beneath the flat headline, the market is rebalancing. Consumer goods, technology, retail and financial services are growing. These sectors are tied to domestic consumption and the Kingdom’s economic diversification programme. Manufacturing and construction are falling sharply, as their elevated 2025 hiring meets slower project starts. Hiring is shifting away from build-phase activity toward operating, consumer-facing and digital roles.
Industry Trends (YoY)
In demand
Consumer Goods/FMCG (+15%) The standout gainer. Rising household consumption, a growing population and expanding modern retail continue to drive demand across sales, distribution and brand roles.
IT and Telecom/ISP (+13%) Investment in digital government services, cloud infrastructure and AI enablement keeps technical demand firm. Saudization requirements add to demand for national technical talent.
Retail/Trade & Logistics (+10%) The Kingdom’s logistics ambitions are translating into steady hiring across warehousing, freight and fulfilment. These include new logistics zones and an expanding e-commerce sector.
BFSI (+9%) Still well ahead of last year, though the pace has cooled from earlier in the year. Banking expansion, growth in Islamic finance products and compliance-led recruitment continue to sustain demand.
Oil and Gas (+4%) Modestly ahead of last year, as operators maintain steady maintenance and production staffing despite a cautious capital environment.
Hospitality (+4%) Positive, supported by the Kingdom’s push to grow inbound tourism and entertainment, though the pace has eased from earlier in the year.
Education (0%) Level with a year ago after several months of contraction. Staffing linked to new institution launches and curriculum reform has largely been absorbed.
Facing challenges
Advertising, MR, PR & Media (−2%) Slipped into marginal decline after a long run of growth, as agencies and in-house teams manage headcount more tightly.
Health Care (−4%) Institutions are managing capacity carefully after several years of expansion, with hiring focused on specialist rather than general roles.
Petrochemicals (−7%) Global margin pressure and cautious capital spending continue to hold back hiring across chemicals and refining.
Engineering, Construction & Real Estate (−13%) Still sharply below last year. Major projects have moved from the labour-intensive mobilisation phase into execution, and fewer new projects have started.
Production/Manufacturing (−25%) The steepest sectoral decline, with the index at its lowest point in 13 months. Last year’s industrial hiring surge is unwinding as new facilities move into steady-state operations.
Functional Trends (YoY)
In demand
Hospitality & Travel (+15%) The functional leader. Tourism and events investment continues to sustain demand for guest services, travel and events roles.
Marketing & Communications (+11%) Consumer brands and new market entrants are investing in brand-building and performance marketing.
Software, Hardware, Telecom (+4%) Holding positive as digital transformation programmes continue. Demand is concentrated in specialist rather than volume roles.
Purchase / Logistics / Supply Chain (+2%) Back in growth, in line with expanding logistics and retail capacity.
Facing challenges
Sales & Business Development (−1%) Marginally below last year, as commercial hiring outside consumer-facing sectors stays selective.
Finance & Accounts (−5%) Finance functions continue to consolidate as shared services and automation absorb routine work.
Engineering & Production (−7%) Softening in line with the industrial and construction pullback.
Health Care functions (−14%) A clear deterioration, with the index at its lowest point in 13 months. Clinical hiring has slowed as providers focus on efficiency.
HR & Admin (−19%) The weakest function, also at a 13-month low. The rapid workforce expansion of last year required heavy HR and administrative hiring, and that phase has passed.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Overview
The UAE posted an 8% annual decline in August 2026, with the index at 57 against 62 a year ago. It is the third consecutive month of annual decline, although the gap has narrowed from −12% in July. UAE annual growth peaked at 58% in December 2025 and has fallen steadily since. The market is adjusting after an exceptionally strong hiring cycle.
The UAE market is narrower and more specialised than a year ago. Construction, financial services, technology and hospitality are growing strongly, reflecting public infrastructure spending, Dubai’s role as a financial centre and continued digital investment. Petrochemicals, education and manufacturing are contracting sharply. Support and service functions continue to shrink. Employers are hiring for growth and technical depth while cutting general and administrative headcount.
Industry Trends (YoY)
In demand
Engineering, Construction & Real Estate (+54%) The leading sector by a wide margin. Large public infrastructure, transport and energy programmes across Abu Dhabi and Dubai continue to broaden, alongside a busy real-estate development pipeline.
BFSI (+39%) Accelerating further. Dubai continues to attract international banks, asset managers and fintech firms, driving hiring across digital banking, wealth management and compliance.
IT & Telecom/ISP (+32%) A sharp step up, as investment in data centres, AI infrastructure and enterprise technology gathers pace across public and private sectors.
Hospitality (+16%) A strong recovery from a near-flat reading in July. New hotel openings and a growing events calendar are supporting demand.
Consumer Goods/FMCG (+6%) Back in growth after several months of decline, though the recovery is recent and worth watching before reading it as a turnaround.
Oil & Gas (+4%) Modestly ahead of last year, as operators keep staffing steady within conservative capital plans.
Facing challenges
Retail/Trade & Logistics (−5%) E-commerce maturation and network optimisation continue to limit net additions, though the decline is narrowing.
Advertising, MR, PR & Media (−6%) Agencies and in-house teams continue to manage headcount carefully, although the decline has eased.
Health Care (−7%) Providers are consolidating after several years of expansion-led hiring.
Production/Manufacturing (−27%) A deepening decline, as firms absorb earlier headcount additions amid soft industrial demand.
Education (−33%) A sharp decline, with the index at its lowest point in 13 months, measured against an unusually high August 2025 base when new academic capacity was being staffed.
Petrochemicals (−34%) The steepest sectoral decline in the market, also at a 13-month low. Margin compression and a high prior-year base continue to weigh on hiring.
Functional Trends (YoY)
In demand
Software, Hardware, Telecom (+46%) The top functional performer, with the index at its highest level in 13 months. Firms continue to prioritise engineers, developers and infrastructure specialists over broad headcount growth.
Sales & Business Development (+24%) Strong annual growth, albeit from a low base, as firms entering or expanding in the UAE build commercial teams.
Hospitality & Travel (+10%) Rising alongside the recovery in the hospitality sector.
Purchase / Logistics / Supply Chain (+5%) Steady growth as supply chain networks reset around new trade and distribution capacity.
Health Care functions (+1%) Marginally positive, with clinical support hiring holding steady.
Facing challenges
Marketing & Communications (−1%) Broadly level with last year, as marketing teams operate lean and lean on digital channels.
Engineering & Production (−8%) Still below last year, but the decline has narrowed considerably. Construction growth is now feeding through to engineering roles.
Customer Service (−13%) Automation, chat-based support and digital self-service continue to reduce demand for frontline service roles.
Finance & Accounts (−19%) Shared-service consolidation and finance automation continue to hold back net hiring.
HR & Admin (−33%) The weakest function. Organisations continue to run lean support structures as they focus spending on revenue-generating and technical roles.
Regional Highlights
Oman (+11% YoY): The Gulf’s fastest-growing market for a second month, supported by steady investment in logistics, tourism and industrial diversification.
Qatar (+9% YoY): Annual growth has strengthened, with hiring firming across services and infrastructure.
Egypt (+5% YoY): A second consecutive month of annual growth after an extended period of contraction, pointing to a gradual recovery in employer demand.
Bahrain (+2% YoY): Modestly ahead of last year, with hiring steady across financial and business services.
KSA (−1% YoY): Slipped into marginal annual decline. Consumer, technology, retail and financial services hiring is partly offsetting a sharp pullback in manufacturing and construction.
Kuwait (−2% YoY): A sharp turn from double-digit annual growth in July, placing Kuwait among the region’s softer markets this month.
UAE (−8% YoY): Still the weakest market on an annual basis, though the decline has narrowed. Construction, financial services and technology are holding up demand.
About the foundit Insights Tracker
The foundit Insights Tracker (FIT), formerly the Monster Employment Index, provides a comprehensive view of online recruitment trends in the Middle East. By analysing millions of job postings across key industries and functional areas, FIT offers invaluable insights for job seekers and recruiters alike. For more details, visit founditgulf.com.
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