Wage Gaps Persist as Kuwait Workforce Grows Rapidly

Kuwait’s workforce has been steadily growing, now estimated at 2.141 million workers, excluding domestic staff, according to Al-Seyassah daily. This figure marks a 2.5% increase from 2.089 million at the end of Q2 2023. While this growth shows promise, Kuwait’s labor market still faces significant wage disparities, notably between Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti employees and between male and female workers.

Wage Disparities in Government Jobs

In the government sector, wage gaps between men and women are clear. Male Kuwaiti workers earn an average monthly salary of about 1,966 dinars, up slightly from 1,950 dinars a year ago. In contrast, female Kuwaiti workers earn an average of 1,387 dinars, creating a notable 41.8% wage gap. For non-Kuwaiti government employees, the wage gap is smaller; non-Kuwaiti men earn around 807 dinars, while non-Kuwaiti women make about 724 dinars, marking an 11.4% difference.

Overall, the average salary for Kuwaiti government workers stands at around 1,616 dinars, significantly higher than the 340 dinars average for non-Kuwaitis across all sectors.

Private Sector Wage Gaps and Employment Trends

Wage disparities also persist in the private sector. Kuwaiti men in private roles earn about 1,648 dinars per month, 16.2% lower than their government sector counterparts. Meanwhile, female Kuwaiti private sector employees earn about 1,075 dinars on average, reflecting ongoing wage imbalances.

Despite these disparities, Kuwaitis are increasingly represented in the workforce, comprising 15.4% of all workers, a rise from 14.6% last year. Most Kuwaiti workers (377,500 individuals) are in government jobs, while 74,100 are in the private sector.

Expatriate Workers and Key Demographics

Kuwait’s expatriate workforce plays a crucial role, particularly in domestic roles, where they make up 26.9% of all foreign employees, totaling 786,000 domestic workers—down slightly from 788,000 last year. Of these, 421,000 are female, and 365,000 are male. Indians are the largest expatriate group, comprising 30.2% of Kuwait’s workforce (883,000 individuals), followed by Egyptians at 16.2% (475,000 workers).

The Road Ahead for Kuwait’s Workforce

These latest figures underscore Kuwait’s economic growth and dependence on foreign labor, but they also highlight areas for improvement. Wage gaps by gender and nationality remain a challenge, particularly in a workforce that’s both diverse and expanding. The numbers indicate a need for continued discussion on wage equality to ensure that Kuwait’s labor market is fair and competitive across sectors.