Rapid rise in the expatriate population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), raises concern in the Gulf country, where expats who made up 36.5 percent of the population back in 1968, now constitute 75.6 percent.
This rapid growth in foreign population, mostly arriving to the oil-rich country seeking employment, has brought about in the past five years an increase in the country's total population from 2.4 million to 3.3 million.
According to a recently published demographic survey, cited by Gulf News, UAE authorities will have to find jobs for 100,000 nationals who will complete their studies by 2005.
The study, carried in the latest issue of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (ADCCI) monthly magazine, said the solution to the problem was not as simple as ending the contracts of foreign workers and giving their jobs to nationals.
The study states that 32.6 percent of the total Emirati population has the skills to take on a variety of jobs and the private sector holds the key to emiratization. "Only 196,000 of the 600,000 nationals living in the UAE are aged between 20 and 50. Of these, 25,000 have degrees and a further 21,000 are pursuing higher education," said the report quoting statistics from Tanmia, the National Human Resources Development and Employment Authority. ― (MENA Report)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
