Banking sector leads in job opportunities for Kuwaiti citizens

The banking sector has emerged as the leading job provider for Kuwaiti nationals, according to new data released in cooperation with the Public Authority for Manpower.

A recent report shows that six commercial banks were ranked among the top ten companies offering employment to Kuwaitis across all education levels, from primary school graduates to PhD holders.

The report showed that a total of 38,882 job opportunities were made available by 30 private sector companies operating in key sectors such as banking, oil, telecommunications, construction, and infrastructure. The strong performance of commercial banks underscores the sector’s active role in supporting national employment goals, reports Al-Rai daily.

At the same time, the report highlighted ongoing challenges in the local labor market. As of mid-2025, a total of 28,746 Kuwaiti citizens have remained unemployed for more than six months, despite being eligible for work. These individuals are not receiving pensions and are not enrolled in any educational institution.

Of the total long-term job seekers, 54.1 percent — or 15,573 citizens — hold university degrees. The report also noted that 31 job seekers have doctorate degrees, 574 hold master’s degrees, and 6,235 possess diplomas.

When it comes to preferences for employment, 2,543 citizens expressed interest in working in the private sector during the first half of 2025, making up 39.2 percent of all those registered with the Manpower Authority. In contrast, 3,936 citizens registered their preference for government jobs.

In 2024, a total of 16,618 job seekers were registered, with 26.6 percent expressing interest in private sector employment, while 12,193 individuals favored positions in the public sector.

The report also documented a decline in job seeker registrations over the past three years. The number of registered job seekers was approximately 34,300 in 2021, followed by 25,600 in 2022, and 23,400 in 2023. This downward trend continued into 2024.

These findings highlight both the proactive efforts of certain sectors — particularly banking — in hiring Kuwaiti nationals and the persistent challenges faced by job seekers, especially university graduates, in securing employment.

The figures underscore the importance of continued collaboration between the private sector and government bodies to bridge employment gaps and ensure sustainable job growth for Kuwaiti citizens.