Kuwait ranks second in GCC for labor availability

Labor force participation in GCC countries was projected to reach 60.5% in 2024, surpassing the global average, according to a recent Gulf Statistical Center report.

The indicator measures the size of the labor force and its contribution to the market. Qatar topped the list with an 87.9% participation rate, followed by Oman at 69.7% and Saudi Arabia at 66.2%.

Kuwait ranked second in the Gulf for labor availability among the four countries with updated data, with 2.9 million workers, 15.4% of whom are Kuwaiti nationals.

Across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman, the Gulf labor market counts 24.6 million workers, with Saudi Arabia employing 68.5% of them.

The market remains heavily male-dominated, largely due to expatriate labor. Men account for about 84% of the workforce, with four working males for every female.

Kuwaiti women have the lowest participation rate in the Gulf, with only two working for every ten men. Overall, expatriates make up 78.3% of the Gulf workforce, totaling 19.3 million workers.

The male expatriate presence has widened the gender participation gap in the GCC to 45%, significantly higher than the global gap of 25%.

In a separate update, the Gulf Statistical Center reported that GCC banks performed strongly in the first quarter of 2025, supported by higher income from non-interest activities, reduced non-performing loans, and lower operating costs.

The sector achieved record profits of $15.6 billion, up 7.1% from the previous quarter.

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