Bahrain EDB welcomes Tamkeen Skills Strategy for Kingdom

The Future Skills Strategy for Bahrain (2009-16) has been developed by Tamkeen, Bahrain's independent authority which formulates strategic and operational plans to enhance the overall prosperity of the Kingdom.

It draws upon findings of an independent Skills Gaps Research Study by the Allen Consulting Group, conducted to help ensure skills in the country are broadened to meet projected labour market needs, and represents another step taken by Tamkeen towards realizing the ambitions of Vision 2030 and the National Economic Strategy.

Allen Consulting Group director Professor Stephen Bartos, said:

"The Skills Gap Research Study was a ground-breaking exercise, putting the Kingdom of Bahrain at the forefront of the region in its efforts to build a skilled economy. No country can invest in all possible skills at the same time. That is why a good information base is so important - it helps ensure that the most important gaps can be dealt with as a priority, and that the overall needs of the nation are met in a strategic way."

Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive of the EDB said, "Tamkeen's Future Skills Strategy for Bahrain is consistent with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and National Economic Strategy, designed to encourage private sector growth, support further diversification of the economy and ultimately elevate national living standards by creating greater opportunities for Bahrainis."

"With a growing number of Bahrainis entering the labour market in the coming years, among them university graduates and an ever increasing number of women seeking highly skilled positions, this high-level strategy will support greater Bahraini labour participation and market diversity," he added.

The strategy outlines sector-based strategies to assist skills development in four focus areas expected to make a significant contribution to economic growth and provide opportunities for Bahrainis in high skilled occupations:

• Manufacturing - total workforce expected to reach around 85,000 employees in 2012, an increase of 34%.
• Health (public and private) - total workforce expected to reach around 12,200 employees in 2012, up 27%.
• Tourism & Hospitality - total workforce expected to reach around 30,000 employees in 2012, up 28%.
• Infrastructure & Service Base - total workforce expected to reach around 22,600 employees by 2012, up 61%.

The research also projected a seven percent increase in the Kingdom's Education workforce by 2012 (to over 22,500) and an 82% rise in the Transport & Logistics workforce to 20,500 thanks to new projects that will create employment and stimulate economic growth such as the Bahrain Logistics Zone (BLZ) and Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP).

Bahrain is committed to attracting and training a workforce that will be able to fill these positions, drawing, in particular, on young Bahrainis. The Kingdom has to its major advantage a growing and diverse national workforce and a young age cohort, giving potential to significantly and rapidly increase the domestic component of its labour force.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa added, "Each sector has its own requirements, but across all, there will be many professional and managerial jobs available to Bahrainis in the future. By prioritising economically valuable skills in focused economic sectors, we will not only increase the human capital of Bahrain but also play to our economic strengths, increasing labour market efficiency and capacity for innovation, and further improving our business environment for international businesses looking to access the growing markets of the Gulf and wider Middle East and North Africa region."

Tamkeen says its Future Skills Strategy for Bahrain will contribute to the strengthening and refinement of current initiatives that are already making a significant contribution to closing overall and sector-specific skills gaps, including those driven by the EDB.

Bahrain has already made strong investment in its education, skills and labour market development through comprehensive reforms aimed at enhancing human capital, supporting the private sector as a driver of future growth and improving market systems, standards and policies. A number of multinational companies have already been attracted to the Kingdom by its skilled workforce.

The forthcoming Education Project (15-17 October), an inaugural event set up by the EDB, signals the Kingdom's broader commitment to address the gap in the global education system.