The GCC countries today face a gap between educational output and labor market requirements. These countries enjoy substantial incomes and therefore spend generously on education, resulting in impressive levels of educational penetration among their populations within only a few decades, and have also achieved admirable levels of gender equality across the various stages of the education system. Yet returns on investment in education in the GCC countries are low. The proposed solution has been to re-create the experiences of other countries in developing their education systems and to encourage foreign universities and institutions to become established in the region—measures which have thus far proven inadequate in addressing the GCC’s educational deficiencies. To discuss the relationship between education and the labor market in the Arabian Gulf, the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) convened its 15th Annual Conference under the title Education and the Requirements of the GCC Labor Market on February 1–3, 2010 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, hosting a group of distinguished experts from various academic and professional backgrounds. This book comprises a collection of the papers presented at the conference, and as such provides a scholarly examination of the scale of the current dilemma; methods with which to monitor its indicators—such as population growth rates, the spread of education, foreign labor force concerns, and unemployment; variables of education–labor market dynamics in an international context; and case studies of the relationship between education and the labor market in selected GCC countries, including a review of the various related strategies and policies adopted by these countries—particularly those concerned with labor force nationalization and encouraging greater integration of citizens into the private sector.

The GCC countries today face a gap between educational output and labor market requirements. These countries enjoy substantial incomes and therefore spend generously on education, resulting in impressive levels of educational penetration among their populations within only a few decades. Yet returns on investment in education in the GCC countries are low. Education and the Requirements of the GCC Labour Market outlines the scale of the current dilemma: methods with which to monitor its indicators -- such as population growth rates, the spread of education, foreign work force concerns, and unemployment; variables of education -- labor market dynamics in an international context; and case studies of the relationship between education and employment, including a review of the various related strategies and policies adopted. By looking to the future challenges that face the GCC in the arena of education and labor markets, this book provides vital analysis for those interested in these issues, as well as development in the Middle East and the wider region.

The large population of expatriates and other non-nationals has outpaced the population of nationals in many Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Expatriates have come to Gulf countries to fill several niches in the labor market, which has segmented the labor market around wages, skills and employment sectors. This labor market segmentation has been characterized by GCC nationals holding stable and high-status jobs in the public sector, which generally do not require specific education or skills. However, the labor market is becoming increasingly less segmented as expatriates and non-nationals continue to fill private sector positions throughout the GCC labor market at all levels of pay and responsibility. Evidence suggests that creating both a competitive and amenable labor market for GCC nationals in the private sector will require a labor strategy focusing on strengthening investment in human capital. Doing this requires a significant investment in education either formally or informally. From a policy perspective, science education has been perceived to be one of the most important and rapid methods of building human capital for labor market readiness and productivity. This monograph contextualizes the labor market relative to science education and vice versa in the GCC countries, and summarizes the literature on the topic before turning to the 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) data to examine comparatively science education and expectations for university and labor market transitions within and across GCC countries compared to international trends. This data is also examined to determine the specific differences in GCC nationals’ and non-nationals’ science knowledge and skills acquisition, which contribute to labor market participation and productivity in GCC countries. Finally, the TIMSS 2007 data is analyzed to compare the differences between national and non-national expectations and understanding of the labor market relative to their science knowledge and skills. The findings reported here provide a data-based portrait of the contribution of science education in GCC countries to labor market potential and participation of nationals and non-nationals. The results of these analyses provide a strong evidence base for policymakers in GCC countries to make decisions about science education and labor market policy. Finally, the monograph itself concludes with several evidence-based policy recommendations for complementing existing strategies aimed at creating a more competitive environment for the transition of GCC nationals into the private sector labor market in GCC countries.

In the 21st century knowledge economy, education plays an increasingly important role in preparing new labor market entrants for the workforce and providing skill upgrading throughout the working career. The vital role of education is propelled by the rapid pace of technological change, as well as the interdependent, global economy, forces that together demand a workforce with the capacity for leadership, problem solving, and collaboration and communication in a wide range of economic sectors. Within this context, the education and workforce development systems are critical for supporting human capital development throughout the life course. This paper reviews these broader trends regarding the role of education in the labor market and then considers the implications for education in the countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Where data are available, the paper examines patterns of educational attainment overall in these countries, evidence of the quality of the education systems and the graduates they produce, and the labor market benefits of higher educational attainment. It also assesses gender differences, where possible, in each of these indicators of interest. The paper concludes by enumerating several key challenges facing the Gulf countries in promoting strong education systems and well functioning labor markets to meet the labor force needs in the private and public sectors in the 21st century global economy.

This volume provides a cross-cutting analysis of the policy challenges related to GCC labor markets. It analyzes the different dimensions of segmentation of these markets, factors of change influencing labor supply such as trends in education and demography, as well as the impact of potential future reforms in areas such as immigration policy, labor sponsorship, taxation and minimum wages. The work therefore provides an overview of what arguably will be the core socio-economic challenge for the GCC in the coming years.

This book addresses critical aspects of the nationalization of labour markets in the Gulf countries. It examines the role of higher education institutions in providing the market with the right skills that are most needed in the era of the fourth industrial revolution (industry 4.0). The book also explores the new dynamics of technology and information systems in upgrading the skills, changing the work environment, and generating employment for the youth in the Gulf countries. The holistic approach of the subject area makes this volume indispensable to academics, researchers, students, and policy makers in the Gulf region and beyond. The book covers a broad range of topics including the nationalization of labour market programmes such as Emiratization and Saudization, attitudes toward women in workplace, the role of high-tech firms in upskilling and enhancing the productivity of workforce, while also providing sector-specific investigations in healthcare, banking, finance, tourism, and hospitality. The analysis is based on original research and primary data collected by a group of scholars from 15 countries and presented in an illustrative, accessible, and concise manner.