Job bonanza : 12,555 Bahrainis employed in first half of 2024 representing 63% of annual target

TDT - Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

The Minister of Labour, His Excellency Jameel Humaidan, affirmed that the growth of the business sector in Bahrain has contributed to providing more promising opportunities for citizens. He noted that the government, under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has succeeded in enhancing economic diversification and attracting new investments across various economic, commercial, and service sectors. Humaidan emphasised that a key objective of the government is to ensure not only the availability of job opportunities for citizens but also the security of these positions and the potential for career progression.

The widening and diversification of the labour market, as noted by Humaidan, have enabled more Bahrainis to secure employment, reflecting the government’s attention to linking economic progress with tangible benefits for its people. In a statement following a Cabinet review of labour market data from the first half of 2024, Humaidan reported that 12,555 Bahrainis found jobs between January and June. This figure represents 63% of the annual target set by the Economic Recovery Plan, which aims to employ 20,000 citizens each year.

Government expectations

The employment rate is progressing in line with government expectations, particularly those set out in the National Labour Market Plan for 2023-2026. Humaidan also revealed that 4,398 of those employed were entering the workforce for the first time, constituting 35% of the total. This marks a slight increase from the previous year, where first-time job seekers made up 30% of new hires.

Employment services

The remaining 65% comprised individuals with prior work experience, who benefited from the Ministry’s employment services, including job fairs, training programmes, unemployment insurance, and wage support initiatives. The Minister also remarked on the increasing tendency to employ Bahrainis across various sectors, with the retail sector seeing a 31% rise in employment, followed by the service and industrial sectors, which grew by 11% and 10%, respectively.

To acknowledge the role of these employers, the Ministry regularly publishes the names of companies that have hired Bahrainis, along with the number of hires, on its website. Humaidan added that Bahrain’s efforts to attract foreign investments are expected to expand employment opportunities in the future further.

Training

In terms of training, 8,637 citizens participated in basic and professional training programmes in collaboration with the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) during the first half of the year. This represents a 19% increase compared to the same period in 2023 and accounts for 86% of the annual training target set by the Economic Recovery Plan.

Additionally, 1,395 citizens received on-the-job training. The Minister praised employers for their cooperation with the Ministry’s initiatives aimed at integrating citizens into the private sector. He urged continued collaboration and encouraged employers to make the most of the incentives offered by the government to ensure that Bahrainis remain the preferred choice for employment in the country’s labour market.