Expats dominate private sector in GCC
Private sector jobs across the GCC region are dominated by expatriates, particularly in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, mainly due to the “unwillingness” of locals to accept lower paying jobs, according to a a new report.
In a report titled “Arab Youth Unemployment” Alkhabeer Capital said with a high concentration of educated youth eyeing jobs in the public sector, private businesses, where opportunities exist, depend heavily on the supply of foreign labour.
“Despite investments and job creation in the non-oil sectors in the GCC countries, the general unwillingness among locals coupled with lack of adequate skills for higher end jobs has led to most vacancies in the private sector being filled up by expatriates,” the report said.
This trend is widely seen in the “relatively well off” labour importing GCC countries where expatriates constitute more than 90% of those employed in the private sector, with this number close to 99% in countries such as Qatar and the UAE.
Most governments in the GCC countries have started to implement various schemes to limit the number of expatriates, especially those in unskilled domains.
"Although GCC economies largely focused on developing the private sector in the last decade, the resultant impact has been minimal, as majority of the jobs have gone to foreign workers,” Alkhabeer Capital said.
Source: Gulf Times | Photo: Faith Zain in the QL Flickr Group
I 200 % Agree With VANMOST comment.
As you agreed yourself the pay scale difference/gap between a Local & expatriates is too high. and they can not work in the private sector since working environment, work load, work pressure, facilities provided to employee are more less than the public sector. so a local can not work under such environment, and other hand they can get a good job in a public sectors with high pay, good working environment,relax in the work etc etc,.
Well, the report is self explanatory... The problem with local youth is their ego and lack of motivation and skillset. The question they always ask themselves why they should to work when they are already enjoying a luxury life. There is another kind of locals also exist who wants to work, but they don't know English or they don't have appropriate skillset. So, expatriates easily outcompete them here.
Arab youth need to understand that these expatriates have arrived in their country after facing furious competition in their countries. They always had a goal in front of them, for which they struggled and thrived. Just look at the competition in their countries, take an example of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China or Malaysia. Their parent had to compete in the hospital or even bed or doctor to deliver them. Then, once he grew up, he had to compete for admission in nursery, then school. Then they had to compete in the high merit to get admission in college and universities... Now tell me, why they have struggled in their whole lives.. Just for a better life and job or any other business opportunity... This is how they outcompete the Arab youth... But when you get comfortable, cozy and luxury life in your childhood, youth or even manhood, why he will study or look for the job???