A comprehensive skills gap study of the financial services industry in Bahrain has been done by the Human Resources Development Fund (HRD Fund), Banking and Finance Sector, it has emerged.

The study report was presented to Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) Governor Rasheed Al Maraj by HRD Fund chairman Murad Ali Murad, who along with the board of trustees, called on the governor at his office, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Al Maraj said the development of human resources was top priority in the kingdom, and noted that in order to strengthen development in the area, a thorough study of the skills gap in the labour market was vital.

This would help us to meet the training needs of the banking and financial sector and enhance the competitiveness of the local labour market, the CBB governor said.

Murad said the study identifies the training requirements for the reported skills gap, and determines the roles anticipated to increase in demand within the financial services industry in the next five years.

He noted that the identification of the skills gap in existing jobs between Bahraini and non-Bahraini workers would contribute to the development of nationals, and help direct the training to ensure that the sector’s expansion needs were being met in an optimal manner.

The HRD Fund includes senior executives with a background in banking, finance, insurance and human resources. - TradeArabia News Service