Kuwait’s labor market hits 3.2 million workers in 2025, driven by expat growth
Domestic workforce rises; labor market expands 8.9% with nearly 263,000 new workers
- The data reflects a steady growth in Kuwait’s labor market, with increasing participation from both nationals and expatriates, particularly in sectors critical to public administration, business services, and essential services.
Kuwait’s labor market continued its expansion in 2025, growing 8.9 percent with the addition of 262,960 workers, reaching a total workforce of 3.212 million, including 885,000 domestic workers, compared to 2.94 million at the end of 2024, according to the Public Authority for Civil Information.
Excluding the domestic sector, the workforce reached approximately 2.353 million, marking an annual increase of 139,500 workers (6.3%). Of this, 2.24 million are males (69.7%) and 972,010 are female workers, while the domestic sector accounted for 761,152 workers (25.2% of the total).
Kuwaiti nationals comprised 21 percent of the labor market, increasing from 449,588 to 493,400 workers across 17 sectors, while non-Kuwaitis make up the remaining 2.7 million. About 80 percent of Kuwaiti workers are employed in the government sector, totaling 395,300, compared to 67,200 in the private sector.
Around one million Kuwaiti citizens remain outside the labor force, including 515,200 under 15 years and 490,000 elderly.
In the public sector, the workforce includes 525,500 employees, with 75.1 percent Kuwaiti (395,110) and 24.8 percent expatriates (130,400). The private sector accounted for 1.825 million employees (56.8% of total workforce), with 3.63 percent Kuwaitis and 96.36 percent expatriates.
Kuwaiti workers are concentrated in public administration, defense, social security, and real estate, rental, and business services.
In the private sector, they are notably present in wholesale trade, real estate, and financial intermediation. Public sector employment also shows 385,100 Kuwaitis in administration, social security, and defense, while 33,500 work in real estate and rental, 11,500 in wholesale trade, and 10,700 in finance.
Other sectors include health (1,311), education (1,357), transport and communications (524), and hospitality (1,723).
Regarding education, 55.57% of the total workforce is literate (1.785 million). Workers with intermediate certificates or equivalent form 16.3%, diplomas 8.75%, and university degrees 9%.
Among Kuwaiti employees, 35.7% hold university degrees, totaling 165,144 graduates, while 6,357 hold master’s degrees and 5,026 doctorates. Among non-Kuwaitis, 123,180 hold university degrees, 4,569 master’s, and 1,714 doctorates.
The data reflects a steady growth in Kuwait’s labor market, with increasing participation from both nationals and expatriates, particularly in sectors critical to public administration, business services, and essential services.
