MUSCAT: The total labour force in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has reached 31.8 million workers, accounting for 54.2% of the region’s total population, according to data from the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat).
Men dominate the workforce, making up 78.7%, while women account for 17.6%. The number of employed GCC nationals stands at 5.6 million, representing 23.4% of the total workforce, with men comprising 60% and women 40%.
Since 2011, the number of working women in the GCC has increased by 600,000.
The public sector remains the largest employer of GCC nationals, with 83.5% of them working in government jobs, compared to just 14.2% in the private sector. Most citizens are employed in the services sector, particularly in public administration.
To address workforce imbalances, GCC nations have introduced policies such as the GCC Common Market and the Comprehensive Development Strategy, aiming to increase the participation of national workers in industry and other key sectors.
The region’s population strategy also focuses on enhancing women’s role in development and boosting youth employment.
Additionally, economic diversification efforts are driving the creation of green and sustainable jobs to align with global labour market trends.
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