The United Arab Emirates is second in the world in business skills

The UAE ranked second in the world for business skills after Luxembourg, and first in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the 2021 Global Skills Coursera report. This year’s report presents in-depth analysis of the level of skills worldwide using performance data from over 77 million learners through Coursera in over 100 countries since the start of the pandemic.

Emirati skills in communication, entrepreneurship, leadership, management, strategy and operations were at the top of the list, with 97% or higher.

These competencies are at the forefront of essential elements of opportunity assessment and challenge and play a key role in enhancing the success of enterprises and companies.

While business skills in the UAE are at the top of the list in the world, they are the opportunity to develop technology and data science skills is particularly acute as the UAE government focuses on the importance of digital transformation as an engine for national development and economic progress.

The Global Skills Report highlights an important opportunity for Emirati professionals to improve their skills in these areas, with technology and data science skills in the UAE ranked 72 and 71 globally.

Anthony Tattersall, vice president of Coursera Europe, Middle East & Africa, said: “In recent years, the UAE Government has implemented many initiatives aimed at strengthening the skills-based economy. These initiatives have had a positive impact on the economy, as is evident from the high standing the UAE has in our ratings.”

He added: “When it comes to technology and data science skills, obtaining high certification in the skills required for each job, including entry-level digital careers, contributes significantly to enhancing the skills of employees on a large scale, not only in the UAE but worldwide.

The report also revealed that women’s enrollment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses, which represent a necessary backdrop for developing digital skills, increased from 33% in 2018-2019 to 41% in 2019-2020.

Another factor in the overall performance of the country’s technological skills is its competitiveness in security engineering, with the UAE accounting for 77%. With a 250% increase in cyberattacks during the pandemic, there has been a strong focus on attracting and developing cybersecurity skills within the UAE, contributing to the UAE’s global ranking.

“Although the UAE has only 34% overall data science skills, Emirati learners have demonstrated strong data analysis capabilities (82%), which play a prominent role in several areas including simplifying business processes, boosting employee productivity, identifying market trends and adapting to customer behavior and preferences.”

Based on the performance data of millions of learners on the Global Coursera platform, the report also reveals important information regarding the skills required and the time needed to prepare for entry-level positions:

– New graduates and mid-career staff can develop digital job skills for beginners in less than 35 to 70 hours (or from one to two months with 10 hours of learning per week). On the other hand, anyone without any degree or experience in technology can be ready to work in 80 to 240 hours (or 2-6 months with 10 hours of learning per week).

– Learners must invest in both personal and technical skills to maintain competitiveness in a rapidly evolving labor market. For example, entry-level cloud computing, such as a computer support specialist, requires personalized skills such as problem-solving and organizational development, as well as technical skills such as security engineering and networking. Entry-level marketing functions also require data analysis software and digital marketing skills, as well as personal skills such as strategic thinking, creativity and communication.

– The skills most transferable across all future functions are human skills such as problem solving, communication, computer literacy, and career management. Foundational skills such as business communication and digital literacy enable workers to participate in increasingly technology-intensive global work environments. “With many looking for new jobs, job-hunting and career planning skills will be critical to securing and maintaining new jobs.”