GCC Labour Market Grows 34% as Workforce Reaches 37.1 Million

Workforce in GCC Countries Surges to 37.1 Million by 2025

Muscat: The number of workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries increased by about 9.4 million during the period from 2021 to 2025, according to data issued by the Statistical Center for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.

The data showed that the workforce grew from approximately 27.7 million workers in 2021 to about 37.1 million in 2025, marking an increase of 34.1 percent.

The average annual growth rate of the workforce during the period stood at 7.6 percent, reflecting continued expansion in GCC labour markets driven by development policies aimed at enhancing labour market efficiency, increasing private sector participation and developing national skills in line with digital and technological transformation.

Expatriate labour recorded an average annual growth rate of 9.1 percent, compared to 4.4 percent for national workers during the same period.

The workforce composition in GCC countries continues to be dominated by expatriate male workers, who accounted for about 66.5 percent of the total workforce in 2025.

In terms of sectoral distribution, the services sector accounted for the largest share at 38.8 percent, followed by the construction sector at 19.8 percent and the household sector at 17.4 percent. The combined share of trade and industry reached 22.3 percent.

The data also indicated that GCC countries maintained low unemployment rates compared to global levels, recording around 2.5 percent in 2025, compared to approximately 5.2 percent globally, according to estimates by the International Labour Organization.

These indicators highlight ongoing structural shifts in GCC labour markets, supported by economic diversification strategies and programmes aimed at enhancing workforce participation and supporting sustainable growth.