DUBAI: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), in collaboration with London Stock Exchange Group, today launched a report titled ‘The Future of Financial Services Talent’, which reaffirms Dubai’s emergence as a leading global hub for talent attraction.
‘The Future of Financial Services Talent’ is the third in a series of reports covering recent trends emerging in Dubai’s financial industry. It provides an overview of the financial services talent landscape and insights into what employees now expect from their employers.
The findings reveal a paradigm shift in employee priorities, pointing towards a significant focus on work-life balance, well-being, and a range of other non-financial benefits.
Furthermore, talent is increasingly searching for purpose, values, and fulfilment in their day-to-day working lives. The findings in the report provide employers with a wealth of data, intelligence and guidelines that have the potential to reshape management styles in the industry.
Arif Amiri, Chief Executive
Officer, DIFC Authority, said, ‘As the leading financial services ecosystem in the MEASA region, DIFC is home to more than 39,000 individuals with over 160 nationalities. In 2022, we created more new jobs than in any year since DIFC’s inception. Our commitment to nurturing talent is evident through initiatives like the DIFC Academy, which offers world-class education, and the DIFC Innovation Hub, which provides comprehensive training programmes by fostering collaboration between start-ups and financial institutions. DIFC’s ecosystem is built upon innovation, development, diversity, and the provision of an enabling environment for global talent, and we are delighted that the Centre continues to attract ever-greater numbers of professionals from around the world.’
Drilling down into the post-pandemic needs of a fast-changing financial services workforce, the new report analyses data from multiple reputable global bodies, including the World Economic Forum, which shows that 80 percent of companies anticipate im
plementing learning and on-the-job training over the next 12 months. It also reports a growing desire amongst employees to challenge themselves, with 77 percent of employees ready to learn new skills or completely retrain.
The report also suggests that employees who find purpose in their work tend to be more productive and more likely to stay at the company. Moreover, if their sense of purpose is aligned with the organisation’s purpose, the benefits extend to deeper employee engagement, greater loyalty, and a higher likelihood that they will recommend their employer to other talent.
The report indicates that management at financial institutions will have to consider the survey findings if they are to leverage changing employee expectations and attract the talent they need. Employers who are receptive to remote and hybrid working arrangements are more likely to attract the desired talent. They could also reconsider and adapt existing management styles to retain their most valued employees.
Source: Emirates N
ews Agency