Dubai’s construction and real estate sectors are facing a combined manpower shortfall of up to 500,000 heading into 2015, a report said, adding that building and construction project management skills are most lacking among senior levels, according to Trade Arabia.

Real estate project financing, property pricing and appraisal, real estate evaluation, property market analysis and brokerage are also key skills in demand, according to the findings of the Workforce Planning Study, which was commissioned by Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the world’s largest Free Zone dedicated to higher education, and conducted by Deloitte.

The resurgent construction market has also provided a need for skilled trades such as HVAC, plumbing and electrical engineering, the report noted.

Fifty-four per cent of companies believe that design engineering skills are lacking among mid-level professionals, followed by civil engineering skills. Among entry level employees, health and safety skills were identified as most lacking.

The Workforce Planning Study surveyed over 2,400 students across 17 markets in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, as well as a cross section of companies. It is the region’s most comprehensive, independent study regarding workforce skills gaps within emerging markets.