Dubai: Professional services firm PwC has hired more than 250 graduates across its business in the Middle East, an annual increase of 60%, in what marks a major milestone for the firm and underpins it’s confidence in the region.
Demonstrating its strong reputation for career opportunity and development, the firm attracted the widest ever range of candidates based on gender, nationality and background. 80% of the graduates are Arabic speakers joining from across 4 continents, and comprise more than 35 nationalities. 32% of the graduate intake was female, underscoring the firm’s commitment to providing more opportunities for women and upcoming generations and in supporting their success. According to the OECD, less than one in five women in the Middle East are actively employed – across its entire business 30% of PwC’s employees are women.
The intake is a record high for PwC in the region, and was marked by a regional two week graduate induction event in Yas Island- what the firm believes is the region’s largest gathering of graduates in professional services. During the event the graduates were welcomed at a gala dinner by the firm’s regional leadership team and its Board, including Territory Senior Partner for the region, Hani Ashkar. After the event the graduates will embark on a 3 year development programme in nine countries across PwC’s Middle East network.
PwC’s business in the region has continued to perform strongly, and growth has accelerated over the last 12 months. The graduates join PwC’s current staff of 3850 in the Middle East, an increase of over 1000 people in two years.
Universum recently named PwC as the second most desirable workplace for employees globally in their annual survey World’s Most Attractive Employer. In the region, this is reflected in its commitment to supporting the development of local talent.
“The record number of new graduate hires this month is a reflection of our growth in the region, as well as our commitment to investing in, developing and retaining local talent,” PwC Middle East People Partner, Emma Campbell, said. “It also remains important for PwC not to lose sight of the diversity that makes our company so successful. Our graduates were recruited from top universities on 4 continents, ensuring a breadth of knowledge and experience that will be crucial to our continued development.”
