IMF report confirms Bahrain's accurate jobless data

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently published its "Facts on Migration, Remittances" book which said the jobless rate in the Kingdom of Bahrain had reached 3.9 percent in 2014.

Labour, Social Development Minister, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, said the IMF-approved and published data on socio-economic development, including follow up of labour market and manpower indices throughout the world, affirms the correctness and accuracy of Labour Market Indices published by the Kingdom of Bahrain periodically and regularly.

The minister said the ministry previously published the unemployment rate dropped from 4.1 percent in the end of the first quarter (March 2014) to 3.8 percent by the end of the year (December 2014). Therefore, the average for the same year was 3.9 percent which is the same figure published in the IMF report. the jobless rate dropped even further down to 3.1 percent in the end of the third quarter of the current year (September 2015).

The minister highlighted the Kingdom's accomplishments in the labour market, attested by specialized international organisations, which reflect the fruitful outcome of the reforms of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and wise policies of the government led by HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the Prime Minister, and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, attaching increasingly-growing significance to the provision of dignified livelihood opportunities to citizens through the programmes and projects that generate added-value, quality jobs that are attractive to Bahraini jobseekers.


He said all citizens have been delighted at the IMF's publishing of these data following the publishing of data that placed Bahrain as the second lowest jobless rate country in 2015, according to the specialized international "Global Finance" mag recently. The Kingdom was ranked 19th globally among the advanced countries in addressing the issue of joblessness among Bahrain's jobseekers.

Minister Humaidan said the ministry will continue to launch initiatives and implement recruitment, wage improvement and incentive schemes that translate the directives of the Kingdom's leadership on practical ground and in the coming year (2016) there will be more efforts in development of recruitment methods, and with focus on the inclusion of jobseekers to take quality positions. so that the Kingdom will maintain the jobless rate within safest and reassuring limits. The minister commended the constructive cooperation of employers and their keenness on the provision of attractive jobs to citizens.

He expressed confidence in the labour market's capacity to create more suitable job opportunities for jobseekers under the updated legislations that stimulate and attract investments to the various productive and developmental sectors. 

The minister also commended the success stories of Bahraini workers recognized even in brotherly countries for their keenness to develop skills and expertise aimed to boost and improve productivity and keep pace with the requirements and needs of the private sector establishments in the light of the ongoing urban development and revitalization all over the Kingdom under the prosperous reign of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. 

The IMF's report, which considers all UN-member countries, included data on labour market indices, migrant workers and money remittances they sent to their home countries, was recently quoted by local newspapers.