The Kuwait Municipality has announced the availability of over 1,000 new job positions, a move that opens doors for both Kuwaiti nationals and expatriates. This announcement comes amidst ongoing national efforts to boost employment for Kuwaiti citizens.
According to the latest annual budget report, there are 1,090 vacancies across various departments. Notably, the funeral department has earmarked 36 positions specifically for expatriates. These roles involve the ritual washing of the deceased, a critical service in Kuwait. Additionally, there are 25 openings for hearse drivers, further indicating the inclusion of expats in the municipality’s workforce.
The report also highlights vacancies for professionals like accountants and engineers specialized in architecture, electricity, and mechanics. However, it remains unclear if these roles are open to expatriates. In contrast, administrative positions within the municipality are explicitly reserved for Kuwaiti nationals.
The new budget, set to be implemented in April 2024, has allocated an estimated KD190 million for wages and compensation. This figure represents a KD9 million increase from the current budget, signaling a significant investment in the public sector workforce.
Kuwait’s public sector employs approximately 483,200 people, with foreigners accounting for 23% of this workforce – the highest percentage among Gulf Cooperation Council countries. According to the Public Authority for Civil Information, as of February 2024, the combined workforce in the government and private sectors stands at 1.9 million, with a substantial 75% employed in the private sector. The recent census data reveals that expatriates make up about 3.2 million of Kuwait’s total population of 4.6 million.
The country has been actively working towards creating more job opportunities for its citizens, replacing foreign employees, and addressing the demographic imbalance.
