Twelve per cent of skilled workers in Bahrain have lost their jobs as a result of the global credit crunch, according to a Gulf-wide study.

Pay rises have also been affected by the downturn but the region remains in a healthier state than most, found the Middle East recruitment firm GulfTalent.com.

The study, Employment and Salary Trends in the Gulf 2009-2010, is the agency's fifth annual report of its kind and provided a comprehensive account of the impact that the downturn has had on recruitment and pay.

It found 10 per cent of skilled workers across the Gulf lost their jobs between August last year and August this year, but the figure for Bahrain was 12 per cent.

In terms of pay rises, Bahrain fared relatively equally against its neighbours, with average increases dropping from 10.5 per cent to 6.7 per cent.-TradeArabia News Service