Toward a National Authority for Construction and Skilled Trades to Empower Bahraini Workforce

Despite the commendable efforts of the Labour Ministry and Tamkeen to train and qualify Bahraini citizens in technical and industrial fields, the Kingdom of Bahrain’s labor market still shows a heavy dependence on foreign workers — particularly in the construction sector.

According to recent official data, the construction industry employs around 138,000 foreign workers, representing roughly 35% of all expatriate labor in the Kingdom, which reached over 630,000 workers by mid-2024. This makes construction the most foreign-labor-dependent sector in Bahrain.

Meanwhile, most advanced economies — such as the United States, China, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan — rely primarily on their national workforce in construction and skilled trades, supported by robust vocational training systems that preserve and develop local expertise.

In light of this, it is time for Bahrain to consider establishing a “National Authority for Construction and Skilled Trades”, operating under a governmental framework and responsible for executing public and housing projects using qualified Bahraini professionals.

Such an authority could serve as a national hub for employment, training, and production, offering fair and safe job opportunities for Bahraini youth while gradually reducing reliance on foreign labor and improving overall quality in local craftsmanship and construction.

Establishing this entity would mark a strategic shift in Bahrain’s labor landscape — restoring the social and economic value of skilled trades, and positioning the Bahraini worker as a direct builder of the nation, not merely an overseer.

This initiative aligns perfectly with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, which emphasizes the development of the Bahraini citizen as the foundation of national prosperity.

Truly, the building of Bahrain must be carried out by the hands of its own people. This proposal is a step forward toward a productive, sustainable, and Bahraini-driven economy.