Qatar career fair connects graduates with employers across key sectors

Qatar’s efforts to connect university graduates with employment opportunities gained momentum on Wednesday as Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Samikh Al Marri inaugurated the fourth edition of Lusail University’s Career Fair, bringing together more than 60 employers from the government and private sectors.

Held over two days on October 14 and 15, the fair features organisations from education, energy, industry, finance and business, alongside charitable organisations and law firms. The event aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional requirements while helping students and graduates explore career opportunities across a range of sectors.

The Ministry of Labour is participating through its National Manpower Recruitment Department and Qualifying and Skills Development Department. Its participation focuses on raising awareness of labour market demands, identifying specialisations with strong employment prospects and guiding graduates towards career paths suited to their academic qualifications and professional skills.

The initiative supports Qatar’s Nationalisation Plan and the National Strategy for an Effective and Highly Productive Workforce 2024-2030, which seek to develop a skilled and competitive national workforce capable of contributing to the country’s economic growth.

Through its pavilion, the ministry’s Qualifying and Skills Development Department is providing information on workshops, initiatives, programmes and training courses designed to prepare Qatari graduates and children of Qatari women for employment. The department is also advising students on academic specialisations that match labour market requirements and helping them strengthen their readiness to compete for jobs across key economic sectors.

Afrah Al Athbah, director of the National Manpower Recruitment Department at the Ministry of Labour, said the ministry’s participation reflected its commitment to achieving nationalisation targets by aligning educational outcomes with labour market needs.

She said the ministry was working to guide national talent towards promising specialisations and employment opportunities across different sectors.

Al Athbah added that the initiative followed the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to increase Qataris’ participation in the labour market, invest in their capabilities and empower them to contribute effectively to national development.

She said the fair would help students and graduates understand available employment opportunities and explore different career pathways, enabling them to make informed choices based on their qualifications and professional aspirations.

The ministry is also encouraging students to take advantage of its academic sponsorship programmes and summer training opportunities across various fields. These initiatives aim to strengthen students’ capabilities, equip them with relevant skills and improve their prospects of securing positions in the private sector.

Talila Al Kuwari, director of Student Life at Lusail University, said the university placed considerable importance on the Career Fair as part of its commitment to providing students with a comprehensive educational experience, from enrolment and academic development to graduation and entry into the workforce.

She said the university was committed to supporting participating organisations and ensuring the event achieved its objectives. Building stronger connections between academic institutions and employers through education and communication remained an important part of that effort, she added.

Al Kuwari said this year’s fair featured awareness activities designed to familiarise students with labour market trends, in-demand specialisations and the skills employers expect. CV-writing workshops were also organised to help students prepare professional resumes and present their qualifications effectively.

The fair aims to create a direct platform for students and graduates to engage with employers, explore employment prospects and identify opportunities for professional growth.

Participating organisations, in turn, can connect with emerging talent and identify promising candidates for recruitment. Students and graduates can learn about employers’ expectations, build professional networks and participate in direct interviews with recruiters.

By bringing universities, employers and prospective employees together, the event seeks to help graduates make a smoother transition from education to employment while supporting Qatar’s broader efforts to develop a skilled national workforce.