Kuwait holds the second position in the GCC region in terms of labor supply
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries continue to be male-dominated in their labor markets, but significant progress is being made in increasing female participation, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to the latest data, Saudi Arabia shows a male-dominated labor market, with a labor force participation rate (LFPR) of around 66.4% for men, while women's LFPR has risen to approximately 36.3%. This represents a notable improvement, as the unemployment rate for Saudi women has dropped to about 10.5%.
Young Saudis are also seeing improvements, with young males having a LFPR of 33.0% and young females 18.4%. Despite these ongoing gender gaps, it's clear that progress is being made.
Saudi Arabia's progress in female labor participation can be attributed to the Vision 2030 reforms, which have significantly improved women's economic participation and employment rates. By 2024, the employment rate among Saudi women reached around 31.8%, and the unemployment rate declined from about 19% in 2022 to around 13%.
In the UAE, women's participation is higher compared to other GCC countries, with women constituting 66% of the government workforce and 30% holding leadership roles. The private sector has seen a 21% growth in women’s participation, with many in skilled jobs (46% of female private-sector workers). The UAE also leads regionally on gender equality indices.
However, the overall Arab region, including GCC countries, still exhibits the lowest female labor force participation globally, about 20%, compared to male rates which are roughly 50 percentage points higher. Women also face higher unemployment than men by about 11 percentage points and are underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles.
Expatriate labor forms a substantial part of the GCC workforce, often concentrated in labor-intensive sectors traditionally dominated by males, such as construction, manufacturing, and service industries. While specific detailed statistics on expatriates were not included in the retrieved sources, this is a well-established structural aspect of GCC labor markets, where nationals tend to have higher participation in government and public sectors, while expatriates fill many private sector roles.
In conclusion, the GCC labor markets remain male-dominated, but governments like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are making strides in increasing female labor participation through education, legal reforms, and empowerment initiatives. The role of expatriate labor continues to be crucial in filling workforce demand, especially in male-heavy sectors. The gender gap is narrowing but remains substantial.
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[1] Source: World Bank Group (2025), 'Labor Force Participation Rate, Female (% of female population ages 15+)' [Online]. Available at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SLFP.TOTL.FE?locations=SA
[2] Source: World Bank Group (2025), 'Labor Force Participation Rate, Total (% of population ages 15+)' [Online]. Available at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SLFP.TOTL?locations=SA
[3] Source: World Bank Group (2025), 'Unemployment, Total (% of labor force)' [Online]. Available at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SLUM.TOTL?locations=SA
[4] Source: UAE Ministry of Economy (2025), 'Women's Empowerment in the UAE' [Online]. Available at: https://www.economy.gov.ae/en/news-and-media/press-releases/womens-empowerment-in-the-uae
[5] Source: World Bank Group (2025), 'Labor Force Participation Rate, Female (% of female population ages 15+)' [Online]. Available at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SLFP.TOTL.FE?locations=AR,SA,AE,OM,QA,BH,KW
- In the business sector of GCC countries, expatriate labor is a significant contributor, filling numerous roles in labor-intensive sectors like construction, manufacturing, and service industries, where male participation is predominant.
- To further encourage the role of women in finance and business, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have enacted reforms such as Vision 2030, which aim to enhance women's economic participation and employment rates, and subsequently reduce unemployment rates among women.
