Kuwait’s private sector has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years, with the country becoming a hub for businesses and entrepreneurs. To support the growth of the private sector, Kuwait’s government has established several initiatives including “Kuwaitization” aiming to secure positions for Kuwaiti talent in the private sector. Kuwait’s government is also investing heavily in education and technology to ensure that its citizens are equipped with the right skill set for modern jobs.
The advantages of Kuwaiti manpower in the private sector are numerous. Firstly, Kuwaiti citizens have access to high-quality education and training, which helps them develop their skills and become more knowledgeable about their chosen profession.
Additionally, by investing in the development of its own citizens, Kuwait is able to create a more sustainable economy for future generations. Despite the support from the government for Kuwaitization initiatives, most Kuwaiti talent tend to seek job opportunities in the public sector for many reasons including job security, work-life balance, working hours, high income, and other benefits.
There are several methods that could help companies attract and retain Kuwaiti talent, this includes:
- Career Growth and Development Programs for Nationals: These programs are an integral part of this initiative. They provide Kuwaiti nationals with skills training, mentorship, internships, and other resources that will help them develop their professional competencies and gain experience in their chosen fields. By providing these resources, the government hopes to create a more qualified workforce of professionals who can contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of Kuwait.
- Work-life balance: Kuwait is a collectivist society that values family life, and therefore a suitable job for Kuwaiti talent should provide a work-life balance. Companies can provide flexible work hours, working remotely, parental leave programs and other options to support the family values.
- Competitive pay: one of the main challenges to hiring the best-qualified local talent is the limited manpower budget of the companies operating in the private sector. To tackle this issue, companies could create special performance-based incentives to tie the payment schemes to productivity.
According to the Public Authority of Civil Information, there are over 75,000 Kuwaiti nationals working in the private sector, the numbers are expected to grow if organizations are willing to take the required measures to attract and retain the national talent.
