Online Bureau
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UAE tops MENA in hiring women for leadership roles, sees 4.5% annual growth
The UAE has seen a 4.5% rise in women hired for leadership roles, according to LinkedIn data in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025. This comes as most countries report a decline. The UAE also climbed from 74th to 69th in the global parity ranking and kept its lead in the MENA region. Overall, female hiring rose by 2%, and women in the UAE were found to have broader work experience and a stronger focus on learning new skills, especially in adapting to AI-led roles.
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US jobless claims remains steady at 248,000
US jobless claims remained unchanged at 248,000 last week, matching an eight-month high and reinforcing signs of a cooling labour market. Employers added only 139,000 jobs in May, and economists anticipate that job growth from April 2024 to March 2025 could be revised down by as much as 1.125 million, citing immigration restrictions and weakening demand. While widespread layoffs haven’t materialised, hiring momentum has slowed, and a tightening labour supply is fuelling concerns over workforce resilience in the coming months.
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DGHR drives inclusive hiring with 326 people of determination in public roles
Dubai’s public sector has employed 326 people of determination, including 237 UAE nationals, as part of its inclusive hiring drive, according to the DGHR’s ‘Inclusive Employment 2024’ report. The initiative focuses on skills-based training, tailored career paths, and continuous development, reinforcing the government's commitment to building an inclusive, sustainable workforce that empowers people of determination to contribute meaningfully to Dubai’s future.
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Kuwait makes employer-issued exit permits mandatory for private expats
Kuwait will soon require all expatriate workers in the private sector to obtain employer-approved exit permits before leaving the country, a move that significantly tightens oversight of workforce mobility. The new rule, effective from July 1, announced by First Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef and confirmed by the Public Authority of Manpower, is set to reshape the employer-worker dynamic in the Gulf nation’s labour market.
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Goosehead Insurance appoints Angie Kervin as Chief Human Resources Officer
Angie Kervin brings over 20 years of experience in human capital leadership, having held senior roles at Vestis and other major firms where she led enterprise-wide talent strategies and large-scale workforce transformations. As Chief Human Resources Officer at Goosehead Insurance, she oversees core HR functions aimed at strengthening talent acquisition and retention, leveraging technology to streamline operations, and fostering a high-performance, innovation-driven culture.
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The Dubai EHRDC & CDA sign MoU to boost Emirati employment
The Emirati Human Resources Development Council (EHRDC) and the Community Development Authority (CDA have partnered to boost Emirati employment in Dubai through targeted programmes, job fairs, and community-driven initiatives. The MoU supports career guidance, skills training, and job matching, in line with Dubai’s broader Emiratisation and social development agendas.
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UAE sets 50–60% Emiratisation targets for insurance sector by 2030
The UAE will implement new Emiratisation targets for the insurance sector by 2030, requiring up to 60% local workforce representation depending on company size. Leadership and critical roles must meet stricter quotas. As of June 2025, Emiratis make up 22% of the sector’s workforce. A compliance unit will enforce hiring targets, while ongoing training and scholarships aim to expand talent pipelines.
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Paramount Global to lay off 3.5% of its US workforce
Paramount Global is laying off 3.5% of its US workforce as part of ongoing restructuring amid a sharp decline in cable TV subscriptions. The move, announced in an internal memo, may impact international roles in the future and follows a 15% workforce cut in August 2024. With 18,600 employees as of December, the company is adjusting to “generational disruption” in media consumption, while awaiting regulatory approval for its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media.
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Too hot to work: Saudi bans midday outdoor labour this summer
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development will enforce a midday outdoor work ban for private sector employees from June 15 to September 15, 2025. Work under direct sunlight between 12 pm and 3 pm will be prohibited to prevent heat-related health risks. Employers must adjust work schedules to comply. The move aims to ensure worker safety, reduce occupational injuries, and align with global health and safety standards.
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UK employment falls sharply, 276,000 jobs lost since October 2024
UK payroll employment fell by 109,000 in May, the steepest drop since 2020, bringing total job losses since October 2024 to 276,000 amid tax hikes and rising labour costs. Wage growth slowed to 5.2%, and unemployment rose to 4.6%. The data signals weakening employer confidence and growing workforce strain as businesses curb hiring and focus on cost control.
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Avanos Medical appoints Camille Chang Gilmore as Chief Human Resources Officer
Camille Chang Gilmore, with over 25 years of HR leadership experience across sectors, joins Avanos Medical as Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Vice President. Most recently, she served as Global Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President of HR for Boston Scientific’s Interventional Cardiology division. In her new role at Avanos, she will spearhead the company’s global people strategy, overseeing talent acquisition, workforce planning, leadership development, and enhancing the employee experience.
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63% of APME firms ramp up automation investment as Q3 hiring remains stable: Survey
Employers in Asia‑Pacific and the Middle East report a steady 28% growth in Net Employment Outlook for Q3 2025, flat from Q2 but up 7 points year‑on‑year. Tech, finance and industry roles are fueling demand, and 63% of firms are investing more in automation. Businesses cite expansion as their main hiring driver, mitigating global economic uncertainty.
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67% of UAE workers prefer working onsite, but 31% feel supported: Report
Gensler’s 2025 Global Workplace Survey reveals that UAE workers want offices that go beyond functionality, favouring creative, wellness-driven spaces over traditional formats. While 67% prefer to work mostly onsite, only 31% feel their current workplace supports peak performance. The report urges employers to reimagine offices as hubs of innovation, flexibility, and human connection to align with the UAE’s national goals.
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79% of HR leaders say poor employee experience harms business results: Survey
Scarlettabbott’s World Changers 2025 report reveals that poor employee experience is directly linked to weaker business performance, with 79% of HR leaders agreeing. Key challenges include a lack of leadership buy-in, misaligned values, and ineffective reward systems. The report also highlights concerns over rigid return-to-office policies and AI’s impact on employees. It calls for people-focused strategies to improve employee engagement and drive business success.
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25% of employees say work negatively impacts their wellbeing: Survey
Despite progress in areas like pay, flexibility, and supportive management, work continues to harm employee wellbeing across the UK, reveals CIPD’s 2025 Good Work Index. Based on a survey of 5,000 workers, the findings highlight a persistent health and retention crisis linked to poor job design, excessive workloads, and inadequate line management support.
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BlackRock to cut 300 jobs
BlackRock is laying off roughly 300 employees, over 1% of its staff, in its second round of job cuts this year, even after expanding headcount by 14% through major acquisitions. The decision reflects a broader Wall Street push to control labour costs while accelerating growth in private markets.
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Amazon cuts jobs in its books division
Amazon has cut fewer than 100 jobs in its books division, including at Goodreads and Kindle, to improve efficiency and align with its business roadmap. This move is part of CEO Andy Jassy’s broader effort to reduce bureaucracy across the company while continuing to add jobs in other areas. The cuts highlight the need for workforce adaptability amid ongoing corporate restructuring.
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Alphabet to continue hiring Engineers despite AI advances, says Sundar Pichai
Google CEO Sundar Pichai confirmed plans to grow the company’s engineering workforce through 2026, contrasting with major tech firms that are cutting jobs amid AI investments. He emphasised AI as a tool to enhance engineer productivity, not replace jobs, and highlighted growth opportunities in autonomous vehicles, quantum computing, and YouTube’s expansion. This approach marks a shift toward investing in human talent despite recent layoffs at Alphabet.
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Africa’s industrial moment hinges on job creation
Africa is on the brink of industrial transformation, but success hinges on closing key workforce gaps. The UNIDO Africa Industrial Development Report stresses urgent reforms in clean energy access, job creation, and industrial infrastructure. With youth unemployment rising and decent jobs lagging behind growth, the report calls for private sector inclusion, coordinated policy delivery, and stronger digital governance to convert potential into employment-driven progress.
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Procter & Gamble to slash 7,000 jobs over the next two years
Procter & Gamble will cut 7,000 jobs, about 15% of its non-manufacturing workforce, over two years as part of a global restructuring plan aimed at countering weak consumer demand and rising costs from tariff-related uncertainty. The move will streamline operations by reducing team sizes, broadening roles, and possibly exiting select markets and product categories. Executives cited growing geopolitical and economic unpredictability, noting that the changes are an acceleration of ongoing efforts to stay competitive in a challenging business environment.
