Bahrain: the labour market
Labour force is 919,501 (2025), 146th of 187 in the world and 21st of 23 in the Middle East & North Africa. Participation rate is 70.4% (2025), 26th of 187 in the world and 4th of 23 in the Middle East & North Africa. Women's participation is 42.3% (2025), 144th of 187 in the world and 6th of 23 in the Middle East & North Africa.
Labour: Bahrain in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour forceLabour force, total | 919,5012025 | 146/187 | 21/23 | 293,400 | 701,770 | 816,393 | +18%since 2015 | 264m | 734m | 3.7bn | |
| Participation rateLabour force participation, % of 15+ | 70.4%2025 | 26/187 | 4/23 | 65.5% | 71.7% | 69.2% | −0.9 ppsince 2015 | 47.4% | 61.0% | 61.0% | |
| Women's participationFemale labour force participation, % of women 15+ | 42.3%2025 | 144/187 | 6/23 | 34.3% | 43.6% | 41.0% | −1.1 ppsince 2015 | 19.7% | 54.3% | 48.9% | |
| Employment rateEmployment to population ratio, 15+ (ILO) | 69.7%2025 | 21/187 | 4/23 | 64.8% | 70.9% | 68.0% | −0.9 ppsince 2015 | 43.7% | 58.3% | 58.1% | |
| UnemploymentUnemployment, % of labour force (ILO) | 1.1%2025 | 181/187 | 22/23 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.8% | −0.1 ppsince 2015 | 7.8% | 4.4% | 4.8% | |
| Female unemploymentFemale unemployment, % of female labour force (ILO) | 3.6%2025 | 137/187 | 20/23 | 3.7% | 3.7% | 5.2% | −0.1 ppsince 2015 | 12.1% | 4.6% | 4.9% | |
| Youth unemploymentYouth unemployment, ages 15–24 (ILO) | 5.4%2025 | 158/187 | 22/23 | 4.2% | 5.0% | 6.4% | ±0.0 ppsince 2015 | 18.7% | 11.5% | 13.4% | |
| Wage workersWage and salaried workers, % of total employment | 97.6%2025 | 2/187 | 2/23 | 96.1% | 97.3% | 97.2% | +0.2 ppsince 2015 | 61.0% | 88.9% | 53.6% | |
| Vulnerable employmentVulnerable employment, % of total employment (ILO) | 0.7%2025 | 186/187 | 22/23 | 1.8% | 1.1% | 1.1% | −0.2 ppsince 2015 | 36.1% | 8.0% | 42.4% | |
| Jobs in agricultureEmployment in agriculture, % of total employment | 0.8%2025 | 182/187 | 22/23 | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.0% | −0.2 ppsince 2015 | 21.7% | 2.9% | 25.8% | |
| Jobs in industryEmployment in industry, % of total employment | 34.9%2025 | 3/187 | 3/23 | 28.5% | 35.7% | 34.5% | −0.3 ppsince 2015 | 26.6% | 22.2% | 23.7% | |
| Jobs in servicesEmployment in services, % of total employment | 64.3%2025 | 82/187 | 11/23 | 69.9% | 63.2% | 64.5% | +0.5 ppsince 2015 | 51.7% | 74.9% | 50.6% |
Better than ten years ago
- Unemployment−0.1 pp1.1% in 2025
- Female unemployment−0.1 pp3.6% in 2025
- Wage workers+0.2 pp97.6% in 2025
- Vulnerable employment−0.2 pp0.7% in 2025
Worse than ten years ago
- Women's participation−1.1 pp42.3% in 2025
- Employment rate−0.9 pp69.7% in 2025
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
Bahrain and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Bahrain. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Bahrain | Iran | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labour force | 919,5012025 | 29.5m2025 | 18.4m2025 |
| Participation rate | 70.4%2025 | 41.0%2025 | 65.1%2025 |
| Women's participation | 42.3%2025 | 14.0%2025 | 33.6%2025 |
| Employment rate | 69.7%2025 | 37.6%2025 | 63.1%2025 |
| Unemployment | 1.1%2025 | 8.3%2025 | 3.0%2025 |
| Female unemployment | 3.6%2025 | 15.6%2025 | 9.7%2025 |
| Youth unemployment | 5.4%2025 | 21.9%2025 | 10.0%2025 |
| Wage workers | 97.6%2025 | 57.1%2025 | 94.5%2025 |
| Vulnerable employment | 0.7%2025 | 39.5%2025 | 1.7%2025 |