Lockton Survey Finds Middle East Workforce Resilience Gap
A Lockton report finds 47 per cent of Middle East businesses face a resilience gap, with talent loss a leading workforce concern.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Remote Work
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Insurance brokerage Lockton's Workforce Resilience report found 47 per cent of Middle East businesses face a 'resilience gap' in preparing for disruption. Only 39 per cent consider themselves very prepared for significant business disruption, although 86 per cent consider their workforce-related risks well understood.
Why it matters
The findings suggest many firms understand their workforce risks but lack the readiness to act on them. Emerging technologies are also placing greater pressure on already constrained talent pools, intensifying competition for skilled workers.
Of 140 HR and business leaders surveyed across MENA, 66 per cent cited loss of key talent and skillsets as a major workforce challenge, while 43 per cent cited evolving skills alongside digitisation and AI and 38 per cent cited competition for talent. The report does not indicate how these shares have changed from prior years.
The players
Lockton
Lockton is a global insurance brokerage firm that publishes risk and workforce research across international markets.
Ducab
Ducab is a Dubai-based cable manufacturer and supplier that serves regional construction and infrastructure projects.
The details
Lockton's UAE CEO Adeeb Al Naser commented on the findings. Dubai-based cable supplier Ducab reported its business flourished following the regional conflict, as developers sought domestic suppliers amid shipping and logistics constraints in the Strait of Hormuz.
Timeline
November 1, 2026: Lockton's Workforce Resilience report article published.
Remote Work Outlook
The Lockton Workforce Resilience report, which surveyed 140 HR and business leaders across the MENA region, shows that talent competition and digital skills gaps now shape how regional employers plan their workforces. Its finding that 86 per cent of businesses understand their workforce risks, yet only 39 per cent feel very prepared for disruption, points to a planning gap between awareness and action.
For employees, the findings signal that skills training and talent retention are becoming central priorities for employers navigating digitisation and AI. Workers with in-demand digital skills may face more competition for roles as firms search for scarce talent.
The takeaway
Employers that understand their workforce risks should convert that awareness into concrete preparation plans. Workers can strengthen their position by building digital and AI-related skills that firms report difficulty finding.
Further reading
For more on how employers are adapting their staffing models, see Remote Work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Khaleej Times.
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