Accounting and Business Graduates Dominate Bahrain's Unemployed University Graduates

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

A significant portion of unemployed university graduates in Bahrain hold degrees in accounting, business administration, human resources, and marketing, according to new statistics released by the Ministry of Labour in response to a parliamentary inquiry by MP Jalal Kadhem.

The data indicates that 1,473 unemployed graduates hold degrees in accounting and finance, comprising 14.6% of the total 10,057 unemployed university graduates (bachelor's degree and above). Remarkably, 82.5% (1,216) of these unemployed accounting and finance graduates are women.

The second largest group of unemployed university graduates (1,413 or 14% of the total unemployed bachelor's degree holders) are those with degrees in business administration, human resources, and marketing. Again, women constitute the majority (1,132) of this group.

Other fields with significant unemployment among university graduates include law and Sharia (1,262), health and medical sciences (970), and engineering and interior design (782). The smallest group of unemployed university graduates are those specializing in special education and learning difficulties.

The overall unemployment figures show a total of 10,057 unemployed individuals with bachelor's degrees or higher, with 8,245 (82%) being women and 1,812 (18%) men. Adding to this, 6,080 individuals with high school diplomas or less are unemployed (3,325 women, 2,755 men), and 841 diploma holders are unemployed (713 women, 128 men). In total, there were 16,978 unemployed individuals in 2023 (12,283 women and 4,695 men), a 21% increase compared to 14,032 in 2022.

Despite the high unemployment figures, the Ministry of Labour reports success in job placement. In 2023, the ministry placed 10,476 university graduates (5,904 women, 4,572 men), a 42% increase compared to 2022.

However, job placements for diploma holders decreased slightly by 1.9% (1,476 in 2023 vs. 1,505 in 2022), while placements for high school graduates and those with less education decreased by 17% (17,581 in 2023 vs. 21,136 in 2022). Overall, the ministry placed 29,533 individuals in 2023, a 1.5% decrease compared to 2022.

The Ministry's response also addressed applications for unemployment benefits. The Grievances Committee reviewed 2,587 applications for reinstatement of unemployment benefits between June 1st and October 31st, 2024, approving 911 of them. This highlights the ongoing challenges faced by unemployed individuals in accessing support.