COVID-19 profoundly has sculpted today’s global job market, causing disruptions in industries of all kinds and forcing new demands. Some sectors are experiencing significant growth and attracting talents as economies come to life again. This blog post provides the insights into these top industries hiring in a Post-COVID Era, taking Middle East and Asian continent by storm.
Middle East
The coronavirus pandemic has led to an explosion in demand for healthcare and pharmaceutical products across the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are spending big on healthcare infrastructure and services. The biggest players here are Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries & Medical Appliances Corporation (SPIMACO), and Hikma Pharmaceuticals. The GCC healthcare market is projected to reach $71.3 billion by 2025, highlighting the significant opportunities in this field.
The tech startups and IT services are also experiencing substantial growth in the Middle East, transforming it to a burgeoning technology hub. Across the region, government-led initiatives are promoting innovation and digital transformation. Growth is being propelled by the likes of major corporations including STC (Saudi Telecom Company), Etisalat, and Careem. The demand for tech professionals is strong in the Middle East and North America (MENA) region as evident by an expected 6.4% rate of Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) over 2021-25 in its ICT market
Environmental Management and Sustainability in the Middle-East: Renewable energy projects have taken off on a large scale, with governments actively seeking ways to diversify their sources of energy. Leading the charge on this front are mega-projects such as Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and Neom renewable energy projects.
The pandemic has led to the higher growth of e-commerce in MENA region, which calls for reliable logistics and supply chain services. Noon, Souq (acquired by Amazon) and Aramex are the biggest of these. The e-commerce market in Middle East is poised to touch $49 billion by 2025 with enough job openings across E-Commerce & Logistics.
Asia
The Tech Revolution has taken over the world and it is Asia, including India + China who are leading this revolution. The area is seeing a renaissance in AI, cybersecurity and software development. These include the likes of major corporations such as Alibaba, Tencent, Infosys and TCS (Tata Consultancy Services). The IT sector alone is expected to expand its business to reach $ 350 billion in India by the year 2025, highlighting a great potential in technology and digital services industry.
Covid-19 has underscored the need for healthcare, spurring investments in medical services and biotechnology across Asia. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Biocon WuXi AppTec Biotechnology is following the growing trend in Asia-Pacific, and its market size will reach $833.4 billion by 2028 which means great growth prospects as well as job outlooks in healthcare/biotech industry for people interested to make a career after fulfilling their studies (ESOMAR/Radius Global Market Research).
Manufacturing is also a highlight. On the factory floor, automation and smart technologies are transforming how things get done in Asia’s manufacturing sector. Global giants Foxconn, Samsung Electronics and Toyota lead the transformation. This is expected to create multiple, lucrative opportunities in manufacturing and Industry 4.0 as the demand falls on key regions such as The Asia-Pacific region itself is estimated at a CAGR of 15.4% from (2028).
The demand for e-commerce and fintech continues to grow in Asia, fuelled by the increase of online retail and digital payments. The growth is largely driven by businesses like Flipkart, Paytm and Ant Financial among others. The continued high growth of e-commerce and fintech is widely expected, with Asia’s e-commerce market poised to reach more than $2 trillion by 2025.
Africa
Agriculture remains a key sector in Africa and continues to undergo modernization processes, which have increased its efficiency as well as production. Large companies including Olam International and the Dangote Group are playing a major role in this growth. The African agribusiness market is slated to become a $1 trillion economy by 2030, which would translate into millions of jobs in agriculture and related fields.
Africa is seeing a boom in investment in healthcare infrastructure, as the continent seeks to reconfigure itself to meet its growing medical needs. Leading the charge are heavy hitters like Aspen Pharmacare and Cipla Medpro. The healthcare and pharmaceutical industries continue to attract investors with the Africa Healthcare Market projected to grow threefold, reaching $259 billion by 2030
The expansion of mobile and internet services is transforming the tech landscape in Africa. Major companies like MTN Group and Safaricom are driving this growth. The number of internet users in Africa is expected to reach 500 million by 2025, highlighting the vast opportunities in technology and ICT.
Meanwhile, Africa is looking to develop its renewable energy base with large scale solar and wind projects. Major projects, such as Lake Turkana Wind Power in Kenya and Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex (pictured) in Morocco are leading the way. According to ‘Fortune Business Insight,’ the renewable energy market in Africa is expected at CAGR of 8.2 per cent from 2021–28, enhancing employment opportunities within the rapidly booming sector.
Conclusion
The post-pandemic era presents numerous opportunities in healthcare, technology, renewable energy, e-commerce, and more across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Job seekers should focus on upskilling and staying informed about market trends to take advantage of these growing industries. By staying adaptable and leveraging the growth in these key sectors, individuals can find promising career opportunities in the evolving job market.