Employment in the GCC countries increased by approximately 9.4 million workers during the period 2021–2025, as data released by the Statistical Center for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) showed that GCC labor markets witnessed notable growth in the number of persons employed in recent years.

The number of workers rose from around 27.7 million in 2021 to approximately 37.1 million in 2025, representing a growth rate of 34.1% compared to 2021.

The average annual growth rate of employment during the period 2021–2025 reached approximately 7.6%, reflecting steady and accelerated growth in GCC labor markets. This growth is driven by development policies adopted by GCC countries to enhance labor market efficiency, expand the role of the private sector, increase economic participation, and develop national skills in line with the requirements of digital and technological transformation.

The data also indicated that the growth rate of non-national employment reached approximately 9.1% during the same period, compared to around 4.4% for national employment.

The structure of employment in GCC countries is characterized by a clear dominance of non-national male workers, who constitute about 66.5% of total employment. This underlines the importance of continuing efforts to enhance the participation of nationals in the labor market, improve productivity, and develop professional capabilities.

With regard to the distribution of employment by main economic sectors in 2025, the data showed that the services sector accounted for the largest share at approximately 38.8%, followed by the construction sector at 19.8%, then households employing individuals at 17.4%. Meanwhile, the combined contribution of the trade and industry sectors reached approximately 22.3%, reflecting the structure of GCC economies and their relative reliance on service and construction sectors.

GCC countries also recorded low unemployment rates compared to the global average, with the unemployment rate in the GCC at approximately 2.5% in 2025, compared to the global rate of around 5.2%, according to estimates by the International Labor Organization. This reflects the effectiveness of economic policies, employment programmes, and human capital development initiatives in GCC countries in recent years.

These indicators confirm the continued positive structural transformations in GCC labor markets, driven by economic diversification projects and national programs aimed at enhancing economic participation, improving human resource efficiency, and supporting sustainable growth across various productive and service sectors.