4. Challenges to Full Emirati Employment

This chapter explains the development of three distinct sectors in the UAE economy consisting of the private sector, the public sector, and the semi-government sector. During the rapid development phase the public sector and private sectors developed on two tracks with expatriate workers providing labor for the private sector and Emiratis preferring to work in the public sector. The semi-government sector emerged as governmental entities started toward privatization to expand operations and improve services using policies and procedures similar to the profit-seeking private sector companies. Early in the rapid growth phase Emiratis with basic education were easily absorbed into the public sector offering attractive salaries and providing desirable working conditions. However, as the economy began to mature and as the public sector grew saturated, the choicest public sector jobs became scarcer. Chapter 4 presents concerns about Emirati job satisfaction in the public and private sectors, especially with regard to Emirati women and concludes with linking the challenges mentioned in the chapter back to the concept of holistic sustainability.