Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI163
2004-01-14 13:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE LABOR MINISTRY REGISTERS 13,000 UNEMPLOYED,
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/15/2007 04:09:48 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: CONFIDENTIAL SIPDIS TELEGRAM January 14, 2004 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 163 - ROUTINE) TAGS: ECON, ELAB, SOCI Captions: None Subject: UAE LABOR MINISTRY REGISTERS 13,000 UNEMPLOYED, ACKNOWLEDGES 6.5 PERCENT NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 00163 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: POL P/M AMB DCM Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM: RALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ECON:CMCRUMPLER CLEARED: NONE VZCZCADI597 RR RUEHC RUEHZM DE RUEHAD #0163 0141334 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 141334Z JAN 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3010 INFO RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000163
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPR
E.O. 12958: DECL 01/13/14
TAGS: ECON ELAB KWMN SOCI TC
SUBJECT: UAE LABOR MINISTRY REGISTERS 13,000 UNEMPLOYED,
ACKNOWLEDGES 6.5 PERCENT NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000163
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPR
E.O. 12958: DECL 01/13/14
TAGS: ECON ELAB KWMN SOCI TC
SUBJECT: UAE LABOR MINISTRY REGISTERS 13,000 UNEMPLOYED,
ACKNOWLEDGES 6.5 PERCENT NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
1. (U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Richard A.
Albright for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).
2. (C) Summary and comment: The UAE Ministry of Labor
released a landmark report this week confirming that 13,000
UAE nationals currently are unemployed. An official from
Tanmia -- the national employment agency that informs job
seekers of job vacancies and provides training --
separately confirmed that the number of registered job
seekers has nearly doubled in the last couple of years.
Although national unemployment in the UAE remains well
below that of other Middle Eastern countries, the UAEG's
public acknowledgment of the problem is unprecedented.
Moreover, we suspect the released unemployment figures
could be significantly higher, given the UAEG's historical
inability to compile reliable federal statistics. End
summary and comment.
3. (SBU) The Ministry of Labor report released this week
implied that the national unemployment rate is about 6.5
percent, and cautioned that unemployment is likely to rise
because 13,000 new graduates enter the job market each
year. The report also confirmed that the size of the UAE
national workforce now stands at 200,000 -- nationals
therefore are an approximate 11 to 13 percent of the UAE's
total workforce. The UAE Minister of Labor was quoted as
stressing the importance of training nationals to better
compete with expatriates for jobs in both the public and
private sectors.
4. (C) Separately, Director of Abu Dhabi's Tanmia Office
Jaber Al-Khemairi told Econoff that Tanmia has witnessed an
exponential increase in registered jobseekers during the
last two years. More than 10,000 nation-wide are
registered with the employment agency and attend Tanmia
training courses on a regular basis. Tanmia's clientele
increased by 3,000 jobseekers in the last year alone. Al-
Khemairi said that it takes an average of one year for a
UAE national to find work, largely because new graduates'
unrealistic salary and work expectations and limited job
opportunities for women hinder employment. Most recent
graduates are unwilling to fill entry-level positions and
expect management positions immediately post-graduation.
Al-Khemairi said Tanmia has made limited progress in
modifying graduates' salary and work expectations.
Wahba
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPR
E.O. 12958: DECL 01/13/14
TAGS: ECON ELAB KWMN SOCI TC
SUBJECT: UAE LABOR MINISTRY REGISTERS 13,000 UNEMPLOYED,
ACKNOWLEDGES 6.5 PERCENT NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
1. (U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Richard A.
Albright for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).
2. (C) Summary and comment: The UAE Ministry of Labor
released a landmark report this week confirming that 13,000
UAE nationals currently are unemployed. An official from
Tanmia -- the national employment agency that informs job
seekers of job vacancies and provides training --
separately confirmed that the number of registered job
seekers has nearly doubled in the last couple of years.
Although national unemployment in the UAE remains well
below that of other Middle Eastern countries, the UAEG's
public acknowledgment of the problem is unprecedented.
Moreover, we suspect the released unemployment figures
could be significantly higher, given the UAEG's historical
inability to compile reliable federal statistics. End
summary and comment.
3. (SBU) The Ministry of Labor report released this week
implied that the national unemployment rate is about 6.5
percent, and cautioned that unemployment is likely to rise
because 13,000 new graduates enter the job market each
year. The report also confirmed that the size of the UAE
national workforce now stands at 200,000 -- nationals
therefore are an approximate 11 to 13 percent of the UAE's
total workforce. The UAE Minister of Labor was quoted as
stressing the importance of training nationals to better
compete with expatriates for jobs in both the public and
private sectors.
4. (C) Separately, Director of Abu Dhabi's Tanmia Office
Jaber Al-Khemairi told Econoff that Tanmia has witnessed an
exponential increase in registered jobseekers during the
last two years. More than 10,000 nation-wide are
registered with the employment agency and attend Tanmia
training courses on a regular basis. Tanmia's clientele
increased by 3,000 jobseekers in the last year alone. Al-
Khemairi said that it takes an average of one year for a
UAE national to find work, largely because new graduates'
unrealistic salary and work expectations and limited job
opportunities for women hinder employment. Most recent
graduates are unwilling to fill entry-level positions and
expect management positions immediately post-graduation.
Al-Khemairi said Tanmia has made limited progress in
modifying graduates' salary and work expectations.
Wahba