GCC sees surge in women’s employment to 7.3 million

Women across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are playing an increasingly central role in the region’s economic transformation, with total female employment climbing to 7.3 million in 2025, up from 5.7 million in 2020, according to a new report by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf.

The data underscores a steady shift in labour market dynamics across GCC states, where female participation has been bolstered by a young demographic base and sustained policy efforts aimed at inclusion. 

The number of employed national women rose notably from 1.7 million to 2.2 million over the five-year period, reflecting growing integration of local talent into the workforce.

Female labour force participation reached 39.3% in 2025, while the unemployment rate among women declined to 10.5%. National women accounted for 40.5% of total employed nationals, highlighting their expanding role in domestic economies.

The report points to measurable improvements across key indicators between 2020 and 2025. Female labour force participation increased by 8%, while unemployment among women dropped by 26.1%. 

At the same time, the share of employed national women rose by 11%, suggesting that policy interventions and national workforce strategies are beginning to yield results.

Sectoral trends further illustrate the evolving workforce landscape. Women’s representation in government roles edged up from 33.3% to 34.8%, while their presence in the private sector, though still modest, increased from 4.3% to 5.3%. The figures indicate gradual but consistent progress in diversifying employment opportunities beyond the public sector.

Healthcare, education, and tourism continue to anchor female employment across the region. Women account for 73.76% of nursing staff and 63.8% of general education teachers, alongside a 41.2% share in higher education roles, underscoring their pivotal contribution to human capital development.

In tourism, one of the GCC’s fastest-growing sectors, women made up approximately 13.2% of the workforce in 2024, with female employment expanding at an average annual rate of 9.5% between 2019 and 2024. This growth reflects broader economic diversification strategies being pursued across the Gulf.

Demographic trends also support continued momentum. The female population in GCC countries grew by 15.8% between 2019 and 2024, reaching around 22.9 million. Of this, approximately 13.8 million, about 60.3%, are aged between 15 and 39, while 69.5% fall within the working-age bracket of 15 to 64 years.

Taken together, the figures highlight a region in transition, where women are not only entering the workforce in greater numbers but are also shaping key sectors tied to long-term economic and social development.