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There has been a 265 per cent increase in the number of Bahrainis holding senior private sector managerial positions over the past six years, according to official data.
The number of Bahrainis in roles such as manager, assistant manager and supervisor stood at 4,475 by mid-2019, the Labour and Social Development Ministry revealed yesterday.
That compares with just 1,225 in 2013, representing a more than three-fold increase.
Meanwhile, the ministry said the number of Bahrainis working in the tourism and hospitality sector had doubled to 5,000, although it did not say over how long.
Authorities are hoping to encourage more nationals to enter the sector, overcoming traditional reservations that have seen Bahrainis avoid it because they did not consider it a respectable career path.
Officials say that sentiment is changing and the ministry hopes to increase the number of Bahrainis in the field to 10,000 in the next three years.
Meanwhile, the number of Bahrainis working in the retail sector has grown from 12,000 in 2009 to 23,000 in 2019 – with 28pc of employment opportunities this year in that sector.
The number of Bahrainis employed at small and medium enterprises has risen from 7,900 to more than 15,000 over the same period.
Meanwhile, the ministry said a total of 17,747 Bahrainis had been hired in the private sector in the first nine months of 2019.
It coincides with a national recruitment drive that encourages nationals to seek private sector positions, as opposed to the traditionally more popular public sector.
Of those, 33pc (5,918) were hired since February 25 through direct nomination by the ministry as part of its National Employment Programme.
Minister Jameel Humaidan said more than 105,000 Bahrainis worked in the private sector at the end of June, which was 69pc of the total Bahraini workforce.
“One of the most important elements necessary for the success of the National Employment Programme is training programmes to acquire skills and qualifications, which are considered the first step for employment,” said Mr Humaidan yesterday.
“The stability of national manpower in jobs and the reduction in the rate of lay-offs and leaving jobs are no less important than the need to provide jobs, because in line with recruitment operations the ministry has spared no effort to ensure Bahrainis are secure in their jobs and career development.
WAGES
“This is done through programmes to raise and improve wages, in collaboration with labour fund Tamkeen, to bear the cost of raises and promotions of Bahrainis for two years.”
According to Mr Humaidan, more than 7,000 Bahrainis have benefited from this programme since its launch in 2018.
He added the ministry had succeeded in reducing the job turnover rate in the private sector from 11pc to 9pc, while the dismissal rate for Bahrainis is less than 1pc.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,056 Bahrainis were hired between May 26 and the end of September after recruitment in 529 professions was limited to Bahraini graduates.
“The ministry has also undertaken a new policy towards employment since 2016 by hosting specialised job fairs aimed at providing high quality jobs with good pay,” added Mr Humaidan.
“Since 2018 seven career exhibitions were hosted resulting in 2,652 Bahrainis finding jobs (last year) – in addition to 1,225 Bahrainis hired in the first half of 2019.
“Efforts also continued to raise and elevate the salaries of Bahrainis in the private sector in order to incentivise workers to join that sector and provide job security, as salaries have increased by 4.3pc in the first half of 2019 to reach an average of BD756.”
Mr Humaidan revealed that more than 90,000 Bahrainis had benefited from an unemployment benefit scheme since its launch in 2006.
“The challenges associated with job creation are ongoing and require long-term policies, primarily adapting education and training outputs to the needs of the labour market,” he added.
“It also requires plans to prepare and steer Bahrainis into jobs in various sectors currently filled by non-Bahrainis, as well as new jobs that are the future in line with economic development and fast-paced changes in the labour world.
“Giant government projects, such as the Bapco modernisation programme, the Bahrain International Airport expansion, Alba’s Line Six expansion project and other projects play a part in providing thousands of job opportunities in technical and engineering fields for citizens.
“The ministry has also managed to raise the number of females in the private sector from 25pc three years ago to 40pc in 2019, raising their contribution in the national workforce to 39pc (overall).”
He also revealed that more than 5,000 Bahraini women were integrated into the workforce through a part-time project launched for females in 2015.
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