[Kuwait] Public-private employment divide persists

In Kuwait, new research has revealed that the labour market remains sharply divided despite years of Kuwaitization policies aimed at increasing national employment in the private sector, Kuwait Times reports.

Citizen employment is concentrated in government jobs while expats continue to dominate private-sector employment.

The latest figures from the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) reportedly show little change in this long-standing divide. Research and international analysis suggest it is rooted in differences in productivity, wages and incentives rather than labour shortages alone.

By June 30, 2026, Kuwait’s total labour force - excluding domestic workers - comprised approximately 2.418 million people, up 2.6 per cent from 2.356 million at the end of 2025. 

The public sector remains overwhelmingly staffed by Kuwaiti citizens. Of its workforce, 397,165 employees are Kuwaitis, making up 80.1 per cent of the total Kuwaiti workforce. This share has barely changed since late 2025.

By contrast, the private sector is still heavily dependent on expat labour, with non-Kuwaitis accounting for 96.4 per cent of its workforce. Of Kuwait’s total expatriate population of 2.8 million, nearly two-thirds work in the private sector. 

Domestic worker rates have continued to increase, reaching 883,308 people, according to PACI. All are expatriates. 

In total, the workforce was found to comprise 495,697 Kuwaitis and 2,805,679 expat workers.

Source: Kuwait Times

In Kuwait, new research has revealed that the labour market remains sharply divided despite years of Kuwaitization policies aimed at increasing national employment in the private sector, Kuwait Times reports.

Citizen employment is concentrated in government jobs while expats continue to dominate private-sector employment.

The latest figures from the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) reportedly show little change in this long-standing divide. Research and international analysis suggest it is rooted in differences in productivity, wages and incentives rather than labour shortages alone.

By June 30, 2026, Kuwait’s total labour force - excluding domestic workers - comprised approximately 2.418 million people, up 2.6 per cent from 2.356 million at the end of 2025. 

The public sector remains overwhelmingly staffed by Kuwaiti citizens. Of its workforce, 397,165 employees are Kuwaitis, making up 80.1 per cent of the total Kuwaiti workforce. This share has barely changed since late 2025.

By contrast, the private sector is still heavily dependent on expat labour, with non-Kuwaitis accounting for 96.4 per cent of its workforce. Of Kuwait’s total expatriate population of 2.8 million, nearly two-thirds work in the private sector. 

Domestic worker rates have continued to increase, reaching 883,308 people, according to PACI. All are expatriates. 

In total, the workforce was found to comprise 495,697 Kuwaitis and 2,805,679 expat workers.

Source: Kuwait Times