Bahrain Labour Market Records Growth in Employment and Citizen Wages in Q3 2025

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

The Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) has released new data showing that the number of expatriate workers in Bahrain’s private sector reached 473,323 by the end of the third quarter of 2025. According to the Bahrain Economic Quarterly Report, this marks a 3% year-on-year increase in the non-Bahraini workforce.

While expatriate numbers rose, the employment of Bahraini citizens also saw steady growth. The total number of registered Bahrainis in both the public and private sectors grew by 2.2%, reaching 157,213. Notably, the private sector remains the primary employer for citizens, accounting for over 67% of the registered Bahraini workforce. The data also highlights the significant role of women in the local economy, with Bahraini women making up 42.5% of the total citizen workforce.

A distinct wage gap trend emerged during this period. While the average wage for Bahrainis increased by 2.6%, the average wage for non-Bahrainis declined by the same percentage, dropping to BD267. In contrast, the average monthly wage for Bahrainis stood at BD892 in the private sector and BD973 in the public sector. Median wage data revealed that in the public sector, Bahraini women earned slightly more than their male counterparts (BD818 vs. BD787), while private sector median wages remained nearly identical across genders at approximately BD500.

To refine these labour market insights, the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) has launched the 2026 Labour Force Survey. Throughout the current year, the iGA will survey a random sample of 8,000 households across all four governorates to gather comprehensive data on employment trends and national workforce needs.