Is the UAE’s private sector doing enough to develop a STEM foundation?

However, despite the increase in technology adoption, the supply of technology professionals still falls short of the current reality. Demand doesn’t appear to be slowing either. The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has released a list of jobs to focus on over the next 10 years, including expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation.

These skills are also necessary for new initiatives such as Dubai’s Metaverse Strategy, which aims to place the city among the world’s top ten metaverse economies and add $4 billion to the city’s GDP over five years.

In this highly competitive environment, how can businesses in the UAE strive to bridge the existing talent gap? It all starts with developing an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) from an early age. Today, businesses can get involved in this work in a number of ways.

School curricula can be enriched by providing faculty mentoring, providing access to cutting-edge applications, shadowing and work placements for older students, and supporting students looking to enter STEM at the college level.

At the same time, there are local and global efforts to challenge traditional gender stereotypes in STEM fields. According to a recent UNESCO report on women’s education in STEM, only 35% of STEM higher education students worldwide are women.

Encouraging women to study STEM subjects from the start and providing role models to inspire them are just two ways to address this gender gap. The UAE has come a long way on this issue. For example, the country tops the UNDP Gender Equality Index, and statistics from the UAE Gender Balance Council show that 56% of graduates from UAE government universities’ STEM programmes are women. It’s time for private sector organizations to do their part, too.

For students already enrolled in STEM programs at college, employers also have a responsibility to engage with the next generation of skilled talent. It is important for organizations to ease the transition between a college education and the world of work.

This can be done by partnering with universities to provide internships in an accessible and inclusive way, including practical job training, competitions, workshops and exciting opportunities.

At the same time, diversifying the sources of tech jobs is an important strategy that is sometimes overlooked. The tech industry needs to revisit their hiring practices and consider broader criteria based on skills, not just work experience.

Apprenticeship programs for people from non-STEM backgrounds – but they may have many hard and soft skills that excel in the digital industry – can be a real game changer. Not only does this help fill the talent gap, but the fusion of different backgrounds and ideas can further drive innovation within the organization.

Another key task for tech companies today is creating work environments where people actually want to work. In other words, improve their employee value proposition (EVP). For example, a new wave of skilled graduates will expect flexibility and growth. Listening to employee needs and creating a motivational culture that supports a growth mindset is key to attracting and retaining talent.

The final consideration is not new talent, but existing technical talent. According to the latest World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report, more than half of organisations see skills gaps in the local labour market as one of the biggest barriers to technology adoption. So, in addition to supporting young people entering the workforce, upskilling existing talent to keep up with new industry concepts — be it the metaverse, cryptocurrencies, or otherwise — is essential.

Finally, STEM talent development will play a central role in driving the UAE’s digital economy and helping support the country’s national development goals. Private sector organizations have a key role to play in this regard.

As we move into Industry 4.0, this is not an option, but a move that businesses must take to upgrade the tech talent of the future.