Bahrain job market ‘strong’, reports positive growth trend in first quarter of 2022
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Hiring activity in Bahrain has been on the upswing, with Bahrain recording strong growth in the first quarter of this year, thanks to the Economic Recovery Plan.
According to Jameel Humaidan, the Minister of Labour and Social Development, the multi-year plan, designed to support the post-COVID 19 recoveries and boost the long-term competitiveness of the Bahraini economy, contributed considerably to enhancing the economic and commercial movement in Bahrain.
The five-pillar plan aligns with Economic Vision 2030 and the intention to achieve net-zero carbon by 2060.
A key part of the plan aims to create 20,000 Bahraini jobs and train 10,000 Bahraini annually until 2024.
The minister also assured that the labour market would witness increased growth in quality job opportunities in the coming period.
Humaidan, who also works as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, confirmed that vital sectors in Bahrain have recorded growth leading to an increase in the hiring activity.
In the first quarter of 2022, there were 707,597 employees, both in the public and private sectors, a 2.1% increase compared to the year-ago quarter, said the minister in a statement during a Cabinet review of the key labour market indicators.
Breaking down the figures further, the minister said the percentage of national workers in the public sector grew by 2.3% to 49,093, and in the private sector rose by 4.6% to 110,607 in the first quarter.
The minister attributed the increase in the percentage of national employment in the public and private sectors to the government’s policy of developing employment mechanisms and launching qualitative initiatives to attract citizens to various establishments operating in the private sector.
“As a result, the percentage of citizens working in this sector reached 69%,” the minister said, adding that the percentage of citizens working in the private sector reflects the strength and durability of the labour market.
“This also contributes to attracting more foreign investments, thanks to the increased number of trained and qualified Bahrainis capable of managing production in various sectors.”
“This is particularly important considering the growth in vital sectors, including telecommunications, technology and financial sectors, which create more quality job opportunities for citizens,” the minister stressed.
Most Bahraini salaries exceed BD1,000
On wages, Humaidan said that a high percentage of Bahrainis working in the private sector are drawing monthly salaries exceeding 1,000 Bahraini dinars.
During the first quarter of 2022, their percentage reached 1.7%, accounting for 21% of the national workforce.
The percentage of citizens whose wages range between 800 to 999 dinars reached 2.6% in Q1, compared to the first quarter of 2021, and they constitute 9% of the total national workforce this year.
50,147 permits for expats
Regarding the work permits issued by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, the minister confirmed issuing 50,147 permits for employing expatriates, an increase of 36.5% compared to the year-ago quarter.
The minister also revealed cancelling 27,576 work permits until the end of the first quarter of this year.
The number of foreign workers transferred reached 18,789 at end of March 2022.
Economic growth 3.4%
The minister said that the national economic growth, citing approved indicators, growth in promising sectors targeted by the economic recovery plan and the expectations of international organisations, especially the International Monetary Fund, accelerated by 3.4%.
Training for job seekers
The ministry, he said, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, will intensify training for job seekers and raise their efficiency to integrate them into the labour market, especially in new professions that require specific skills.
“The project would keep pace with the economic changes and technology to make the citizens the first choice in the labour market,” the minister added.
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