Key Highlights of the Month
The foundit Insights Tracker (FIT) for the Middle East recorded 0% year-on-year (YoY) growth in online recruitment activity, with the index inching up from 149 in July 2024 to 150 in July 2025.
Month-on-month (MoM) hiring declined by -4% (from 156 in June 2025 to 150 in July 2025), reflecting seasonal slowdowns. Over the last six months, however, activity rose by +4%, supported by steady non-oil private sector growth and improving business stability.
Hiring Trends – Industry Year-on-year (YoY)
Top Gainers (YoY):
- Production & Manufacturing (+37%): Driven by regional diversification and industrial expansion.
- IT & Telecom/ISP (+35%): Boosted by rapid digital adoption, cloud expansion, and AI investments.
- BFSI (+27%): Strong performance supported by fintech growth and regulatory reforms.
- Education (+20%): Lifted by government-led skilling programmes.
- Hospitality (+17%): Benefited from tourism recovery and demand for service roles.
Facing Headwinds (YoY):
- Retail/Trade & Logistics (-30%): Slowed by weaker consumer spending and global trade headwinds.
- Consumer Goods/FMCG (-20%): Pressured by inflation and softer demand.
- Healthcare (-14%): Hiring normalised post-pandemic surge.
- Advertising/Media (-8%): Budget tightening and shift to digital platforms.
- Petrochemicals (-1%): Slight contraction linked to market volatility.
Hiring Trends – Functional Area
Recruitment activity by function reflected sharper contrasts:
In Demand (YoY):
- HR & Admin (+22%): Increased focus on talent management and retention.
- Engineering & Production (+12%): Driven by infrastructure and industrial projects.
- Customer Service (+10%): Supported by expansion in e-commerce and service industries.
- Healthcare (+4%): Steady demand post-pandemic.
Declining Roles (YoY):
- Finance & Accounts (-22%): Impacted by automation and leaner finance teams.
- Marketing & Communications (-14%): Hiring slowed amid budget cuts and digital consolidation.
- Sales & Business Development (-12%): Employers prioritised retention over expansion.
- Hospitality & Travel (-9%) and Legal (-8%): Seasonal dips and regulatory streamlining.
- Purchase/Logistics (-4%) and Software/Hardware/Telecom (-4%): Consolidation across supply chain and tech hiring.
Regional Highlights
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)
Hiring activity in KSA fell -15% YoY, with the index declining from 221 in July 2024 to 189 in July 2025.
- Strong performers: Production & Manufacturing (+52%), IT & Telecom (+39%).
- Facing declines: Oil & Gas (-40%) and Advertising/Media (-41%).
Functional demand weakened, with only Healthcare (+4%) and Marketing & Comms (+1%) showing marginal gains. Sales (-19%), Finance (-18%), and Software/Hardware/Telecom (-21%) saw steep declines.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
UAE recorded an +8% YoY increase, with the index rising from 55 in July 2024 to 60 in July 2025.
- Strong performers: Engineering & Construction (+32%), Manufacturing (+27%), IT & Telecom (+18%).
- Facing declines: BFSI (-27%), Retail/Logistics (-20%), Oil & Gas (-16%).
Functional hiring trends were mixed: HR & Admin (+8%), Healthcare (+6%), and IT/Telecom (+1%) grew modestly, while Sales (-42%), Finance (-23%), and Logistics (-20%) saw sharp contractions.
About the foundit Insights Tracker
The foundit Insights Tracker (FIT), formerly known as the Monster Employment Index, offers a deep dive into online recruitment trends across the Middle East. Powered by millions of job listings, FIT provides granular insights into industry shifts, functional demand, and regional hiring dynamics, enabling employers and jobseekers to anticipate market movements. Visit founditgulf.com for more.
