Economy Saudi, Kuwaiti and Qatari bosses report hiring sprees By Gavin Gibbon June 4, 2025, 2:15 AM Alamy/Ayman Kashef via Reuters Connect Construction workers on their lunch break in Doha. Businesses Qatar – along with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia – reported strong jobs growth in May Jobs market weaker elsewhere in Mena Employment at record pace in Kuwait Operations and sales drive Saudi growth Employment growth has accelerated in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar despite economic uncertainty, but hiring momentum remains uneven in other Mena markets, according to the latest purchasing managers’ index surveys. In Saudi Arabia, job creation was “one of the fastest seen in over a decade” in May, the Riyad Bank PMI report said. The Saudi index’s seasonally adjusted headline figure stood at 55.8 last month, up from 55.6 in April. This is well above the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction, but below January’s peak of 60.5. “Hiring momentum remained strong as companies expanded teams to support output growth, particularly in operations and sales,” said Naif Al Ghaith, chief economist at Riyad Bank. The uptick comes despite the International Monetary Fund trimming its 2025 growth forecast for Saudi Arabia to 3 percent, citing falling oil prices and escalating trade risks. Oil prices could decline by more than 15 percent this year and by nearly 7 percent in 2026, the IMF has warned. Skills shortage a concern for Saudi’s big-ticket events Turkey’s Zorlu to cut jobs and sell assets Oman steps up efforts to curb rising unemployment In Kuwait, employment increased at the fastest pace in its PMI survey’s history. “Higher new orders and a desire to complete projects in a timely manner led companies to increase their staffing levels for the third consecutive month in May,” said Andrew Harker, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence. The PMI headline rate dipped to 53.9 from 54.2 in April. The Qatar PMI for May also recorded employment increasing at one of the fastest rates in its history. Businesses also raised input buying to replenish inventories. The headline figure was 50.8, little-changed from 50.7 in April. Elsewhere in the region, sentiment was weaker. Turkey’s PMI stood at 47.2, reflecting its sixth consecutive monthly decline in manufacturing employment. The country has also recorded its worst quarterly growth since the pandemic. In Egypt, the PMI rose to 49.5 from 48.5, but staffing levels fell for a fourth month as businesses scaled back purchases and hiring. “A number of surveyed firms continued to report softness in market demand,” said David Owen, senior economist at S&P Global. Register now: It’s easy and free AGBI registered members can access even more of our unique analysis and perspective on business and economics in the Middle East. Why sign uP Exclusive weekly email from our editor-in-chief Personalised weekly emails for your preferred industry sectors Read and download our insight packed white papers Access to our mobile app Prioritised access to live events Register for free Already registered? Sign in I’ll register later Register now: It’s easy and free AGBI registered members can access even more of our unique analysis and perspective on business and economics in the Middle East. Why sign uP Exclusive weekly email from our editor-in-chief Personalised weekly emails for your preferred industry sectors Read and download our insight packed white papers Access to our mobile app Prioritised access to live events Register for free Already registered? Sign in I’ll register later
