More than 15,433 jobseekers are currently registered with the Labour and Legal Affairs Ministry, while 33,400 job vacancies were announced through the National Employment Platform in 2025 alone, according to Labour and Legal Affairs Minister Yousif Khalaf.
Responding to parliamentary questions from MPs Hamad Al Doy and Jalila Al Sayed in writing, the minister outlined in detail the current employment landscape, Bahrainisation enforcement, wage support structure, labour market challenges and how the government is attempting to bridge the skills gap between education outputs and private sector needs.
“The number of jobseekers is dynamic and constantly changing depending on new registrations and successful employment,” Mr Khalaf said.
Of the 15,433 registered jobseekers in 2025: 10,950 are females and 4,483 males.
Out of the above, 3,777 have studied secondary and below, 1,049 are diploma holders, 10,607 have bachelor’s degrees. A further breakdown by age groups shows that a total of 5,393 were aged between 20-24 years and 5,612 were aged 25-29 years, while only 217 were above the age of 45.
The minister revealed significant labour movement in the private sector last year: 9,149 new entrants were employed, 7,166 returned to work after being unemployed for over six months, 4,239 returned after 2-6 months of unemployment, and 6,409 moved directly from one private sector job to another.
Comparatively in 2024: 8,631 new entrants were employed, 6,500 returned after more than six months of unemployment, 5,007 returned after two-to-six months, and there were 6,120 job transfers within the private sector.
“Bahraini workers have proven their competitiveness, with some establishments reaching extraordinary high Bahrainisation rates,” he noted.
All sectors are now bound by Bahrainisation quotas, monitored electronically in co-ordination with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).
Companies that fail to meet quotas are charged BD500 per foreign work permit and are barred from participating in government tenders.
He clarified that while the Ministry advertises vacancies, wage support is handled separately by Tamkeen.
“There is no direct link between posting vacancies and wage support approval. Employers apply for support only after employment and insurance registration,” he said.
To make Bahrainis more cost-competitive, wage support now covers: 70pc in year one, 50pc in year two and 30pc in the third year.
Support ceilings were raised to BD800 for university graduates, BD600 for diploma holders and BD450 for secondary schools graduates and below.
An additional programme supports salary increases for employees earning below BD1,500, offering up to BD300 for 24 months.
Mr Khalaf referenced the directive of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, requiring the ministry to offer three job opportunities to every registered jobseeker during 2025.
“This directive contributed to the employment of 4,706 Bahrainis in three months,” he said.
Mr Khalaf pointed out that in co-ordination with Tamkeen and Bahrain Polytechnic, the ministry is retraining jobseekers in artificial intelligence, digital economy skills, apprenticeship programmes and technical and vocational pathways.
“University graduates in training receive BD200 in unemployment benefits, while others receive BD150 during training.”
He added that the ministry now tracks firms that dismiss Bahrainis after wage support ends. “Such companies are reported to Tamkeen for legal action,” he said.
They are also blocked from posting vacancies on the employment platform. “We verify every dismissal registered in the unemployment system to ensure it is not linked to the end of wage support,” Mr Khalaf stressed.
He clarified that Bahrain does not impose a rigid minimum wage, but sets supported entry salary benchmarks instead.
“Wages are subject to supply, demand, skills, sector and experience, but the government intervenes through support to raise standards without widening the cost gap with expatriate labour,” he explained.
The minister admitted the biggest challenge remains the mismatch between educational outputs and private sector demand. “To address this, the ministry feeds labour data into the national Bahrain Skills system under Tamkeen to guide students and jobseekers towards market-relevant careers,” he explained. “We’re continuously working to bridge the cost and skill gap to ensure sustainable employment opportunities for Bahrainis.”
He will appear during today’s weekly session to respond to further queries the MPs may have.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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