Why is the UAE a go-to destination for skilled Indian workers? Well, why not? After all, the UAE wants them. A Huntr report reveals that there has been a 25 per cent rise in demand for skilled Indian migrant workers. In fact, in 2022, Indian migrant workers in the UAE sent home about $100 billion, contributing to the Indian economy, and being the driving force behind the development of rural areas and families.
As per the report, the industries in the Emirates and the pace at which infrastructure projects are being developed there require skilled labour. The healthcare, technology, constructure, logistics and manufacturing sectors in the UAE cannot do without skilled Indian blue-collar workers. In fact, these industries have witnessed a 20-25 per cent surge in demand for skilled workers in the past year itself. The rapid urbanisation and widespread adoption of technology has only further pushed this demand.
The demand has gone up so much that non-skilled workers have begun to actively upskill themselves leveraging government opportunities provided to them for doing so. The initiatives rolled out by the National Qualification Authority (NQA), the Vocational Education and Training (VET) programmes, as well as the NAFIS programme are seeing a surge in takers.These upskilling programmes are empowering the migrant workers, equipping them with much-needed skills. This knowledge is transferred to their counterparts back home when they return, which only adds to the economy growth of India as valuable expertise is transferred and exchanged.
A huge advantage for the UAE economy is that the diverse/skilled workforce gives rise to sustainable practices as well as compliance to safety requirements and environmental standards, making the labour market sustainable in the long run.
Maximum number of migrant skilled workers flocking to the UAE are from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Huntr is a blue-collar worker marketplace based in the UAE, which connects migrant workers with enterprises that require their services. The study attempted to examine the migration patterns and upskilling initiatives of skilled and unskilled Indian workers in the MENA region, with special focus on the United Arab Emirates. The report was based on quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews of about one lakh skilled migrant blue-collar workers enrolled with Huntr.