More than half of Middle East firms are planning to increase headcount in 2010, according to research from Middle East job site Careertunity.com.

The research also shows that jobsites are the preferred method of recruitment for most respondents, while salary growth is expected to average between 7 and 7.5% in the United Arab Emirates and 7.9% across the Middle East region this year.

Sudeshna Mukherjee, general manager, Careertunity, says: “Most of the region’s companies adjusted well to new business realities last year and are now moving to maintain and acquire top talent to enhance their competitiveness and achieve their goals.”