In Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, citizens maintained their jobs amid the coronavirus at higher rates than in Western countries, reflecting the unique labour market structures of Gulf countries, where migrants have been disproportionately affected.
In the Gulf, the predominance of the public sector in hiring citizens and the opening of the labor market to migrants combine to create favorable situations for the employment of women among nationals.
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In case studies in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, this dynamic meant that the coronavirus pandemic caused an increase in male unemployment than that of women, unlike Western countries, where women lost their jobs at a higher rate.
In Saudi Arabia, male unemployment increased by 2. 1% (6 to 8. 1%) in the last quarter of 2020 (until the same quarter of 2019), while women’s unemployment increased by only 0. 1% (from 31. 1 to 31. 4%). By contrast, the United States reported a higher increase in women’s unemployment in February-April 2020: an increase of 13% to 10% for male unemployment.
Bahrain does not have the knowledge for direct comparison, however, a recently published socio-economic effect on research through Derasat and UNDP Bahrain comprises instructive knowledge: a national representative survey of Bahraini people found that 70. 7% of men had work before the pandemic, compared to 66. 1% after that, while the corresponding figures for women were 55. 9 consistent with per cent and 52. 3 consistent with per cent. As with Saudi Arabia, this indicates that the pandemic has had a greater effect on the male labour market.
Saudi Arabia walks in Abha High City, while the summer season begins with fitness precautions amid the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) (Reuters).
The first branch of the army for the Saudi armed forces (supplied)