Gulf nationals dominate the government sector workforce, comprising 83.5% of all employees. This sector remains the largest employer for Gulf nationals, while the private sector lags behind, with Gulf workers accounting for just 14.2% of the workforce.
In 2022, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reported that the total workforce across the region stood at 31.8 million. This number represents 54.2% of the population. Out of this, 5.6 million workers were GCC citizens, making up 17.6% of the total workforce. Among GCC citizens, men make up 60% and women account for 40%. Notably, the number of female workers in the region has risen significantly, with 600,000 more women joining the workforce since 2011.
The government sector has proven to be the primary employer of Gulf nationals. While 83.5% of government employees are Gulf nationals, the private sector remains far less representative, with only 14.2% of private sector workers being nationals. The majority of Gulf nationals are employed in the services sector, especially in public administration roles.
While Gulf nationals are more prevalent in the government sector, there’s significant potential for workforce localization in the private sector. GCC countries have implemented policies to correct labor market imbalances and encourage more nationals to join private companies. Efforts are in place to ensure that nationals participate more actively in the private workforce, supported by industrial and economic development strategies.
One of the key strategies to improve workforce participation includes policies to empower women, balance workforce demographics, and increase national workers’ skills. These steps align with broader goals of economic diversification and the transition to greener, environmentally-friendly jobs.
The educational sector is also a key focus. GCC countries have invested heavily in educating their national workforce. In 2021-2022, the number of public education students across GCC countries reached 9.3 million, showing a 6.6% annual growth rate since 2018. A large portion, 75%, of these students attend government institutions, underlining the region’s focus on public education.
Additionally, higher education is thriving in the GCC, with 2 million students enrolled across 258 institutions in 2021-2022. The region has also made impressive strides in global university rankings, strengthening the educational foundation for its national workforce.
The health sector is another area of growth in the GCC. The number of hospital beds increased by 8.9% between 2018 and 2022, while the number of medical doctors grew by over 65%. The increase in pharmacists and medical professionals reflects the region’s commitment to improving healthcare services for its growing population.
In terms of innovation, the GCC Patent Office granted 1,316 patents in the fields of pharmacy and biotechnology in 2022. These achievements highlight the region’s commitment to advancing in critical industries like healthcare and technology.
Overall, while the government sector remains the largest employer of Gulf nationals, the region is taking significant steps to localize the private sector and ensure a skilled, educated national workforce.
