Kuwait’s labour market grew by 8.9 percent in 2025, adding 262,960 workers to reach a total workforce of about 3.21 million, including 885,000 domestic workers, according to the Public Authority for Civil Information. Excluding domestic workers, the workforce stands at roughly 2.35 million, reflecting a 6.3 percent annual increase.
Expatriates continue to dominate the labour market, accounting for about 79 percent (2.7 million workers), while Kuwaiti nationals make up around 21 percent, with their numbers rising to 493,400 across 17 sectors. Around 80 percent of Kuwaiti employees work in the public sector, compared to a much smaller share in private companies.
The private sector employs about 1.83 million workers, most of whom are expatriates, while the public sector has around 525,500 employees, with Kuwaitis forming the majority. Male workers make up nearly 70 percent of the total workforce, and female workers number just over 972,000.
Data also shows that about one million Kuwaiti citizens remain outside the labour force, including children under 15 and elderly residents. Overall, the figures highlight continued expansion in Kuwait’s labour market, driven largely by expatriate participation alongside gradual growth in national employment.
