The need for agility, cost flexibility and access to critical skills became increasingly important in the 2023 talent landscape. As a result, Outsized, a leading on-demand talent platform in the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa, has seen a surge of demand for independent skilled talent from enterprises moving to more agile and flexible workforce models. Findings from its third annual Talent-On-Demand 2024 report, based on proprietary data collected from Outsized’s platform, revealed the MENA region as one of the fastest growing freelance economies, with 142% growth in freelancer registrations from 2022.
Leading companies in MENA, APAC and Africa are now actively implementing agile workforce models to swiftly adapt to market fluctuations and unforeseen challenges. The MENA region, with a focus on diversifying oil dependency into a knowledge and skills economy, is witnessing a remarkable increase in freelance talent demand, diverging from the global downturn seen in the US and Europe. This surge spans sectors such as IT, banking, finance, real estate, construction, energy and hospitality, showcasing a vibrant employment arena for skilled professionals.
Summarising thousands of data points, the Talent-On-Demand 2024 report identifies the top skills in demand as evidenced by MENA enterprises that have used Outsized. This market is witnessing a diversified demand in response to an influx of major projects like NEOM in KSA and open immigration policies from countries like the UAE. Unlike the global trend where technology and data analysis dominate, the MENA region shows a broader scope, including finance, risk and areas like product and proposition, sales, marketing and change management. In 2024, new macro trends such as Environmental Social Governance and sustainability, data analytics and procurement are expected to rise in importance, which will further accelerate demand for local and international skilled independent talent.
Outsized’s report also reveals that the on-demand talent pool in the MENA region boasts the highest average expertise, at 10.1 years, outperforming the larger APAC and Africa regions. The report also highlights that day rates for MENA professionals stand at US$309, ranking third behind Southeast Asia (US$544) and Africa at (US$316).
Azeem Zainulbhai, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Outsized, said: “In high-growth markets like MENA, more businesses are recognising the value of agility and specialised expertise that on-demand skilled professionals provide. At Outsized, we’ve developed the infrastructure to efficiently connect skilled talent with leading organisations and this year saw an increasing number of the region’s companies leverage our platform to access this international talent pool.
“This change highlights the fading myth that the gig economy is reserved for low skill or low value talent, signalling a strategic transition towards a more data-informed and technology-focused business environment. Our commitment through initiatives like the Talent-On-Demand report is to foster a sustainable independent talent market, driven by values that support both businesses and professionals in becoming future-proof.”
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