Bahrain's national workforce has outgrown the annual rate of expatriate workers entering the local jobs market.

According to latest Labour Ministry statistics, the number of Bahraini workers grew by 2.2 per cent per annum, compared with 1.2 per cent growth in migrant workers, reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The figures were released yesterday (December 22) as His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting at Gudaibiya Palace. His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, attended.

The survey also revealed that the number of Bahrainis, who entered the labour market, grew by 8.4 per cent in the third quarter of this year.

The Premier hailed the new trends, which reflect the government's success in creating work opportunities for nationals and Bahrainising jobs.

“The updated labour indices confirm the stability of the national economy and its ability to generate jobs for Bahrainis,” he said.

The Premier called for initiatives to train Bahrainis so that they can become more competitive in the labour market.

The Premier directed the ministerial committee in charge of labour affairs to submit proposals on programmes and initiatives to increase the salaries of unqualified Bahraini workers in the private sector. - TradeArabia News Service