According to the most recent data, Qatar has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world. In fact, the CIA World Factbook places Qatar as the country with the third lowest unemployment rate in the world, after Cocos Islands and Cambodia. Moreover, the country continues to display a downward trend since at least the early nineties, and projections show positive signs that this trend will continue.
It comes as no surprise that this tiny and wealthy nation will have such a low unemployment rate. For one, Qatar is guided by its National Vision 2030, which emphasizes the need to have a strong workforce that is not only skilled and capable, but also adheres to a commitment to the ethics of business. The vision also promotes the creation of novel jobs and the inclusion of as many different skilled workers into a variety of jobs as possible.
Qatar’s Unemployment one of the Lowest in the World
1. Protected Rights
Qatari workers are protected by rights created by the government in accordance with the standards set up by the international community. In fact, Qatar has a labor law that is responsible for maintaining a positive and productive connection between employers and employees. The laws not only cater to local workers; expats, which are an integral part of Qatar’s societal backbone, have rights as well, including the Domestic Workers Rights for domestic-related jobs.
2. Filled with Opportunities
Expatriates, in particular, have seen Qatar as a great place to work in, not just because of the hefty salaries, but also because it provides so many job opportunities across a variety of fields, both in the private and the public sector. In fact, more than 85 percent of Qatar’s population is made up of expatriates, with 63 percent of them moving in for better job prospects and 44 percent to increase their earnings. Companies in Qatar have responded by vowing to expand by increasing their operations or number of branches.
3. High Pay, High Rewards
The fact that workers in Qatar receive high pay and high rewards for work makes the country even more conducive to having a career. In fact, various studies show that Qatar will soon become the highest paying country among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Aside from the high salaries that workers enjoy, they don’t even have to pay tax, and if some do, they only pay very little. Personal income tax rate is zero percent.
4. Effective Social Safety Net
What happens to the unemployed in Qatar? Well, for expats, many unemployment benefits do not apply, since their stay in Qatar is tied to work visas anyway. When a work contract expires or once the employment is terminated, expats simply go back to their home country. But for Qatari citizens, the labor act prioritizes them when they are jobless. According to the Labor Law of Qatar, the Labor Department at the Ministry will register Qatari nationals who are unemployed, or are looking for a better job, and will help nominate them to employers looking for particular skill sets.
Qatar once again shows that it has an excellent government, one that focuses on improving the welfare of its citizens by ensuring that everyone in the working class has a job that suits their skills and expertise and rewards them with high pay and benefits.
DISCLAIMER: The topics presented in this article are for information-sharing purposes only. They may be used as a personal guide, but they should not be used as a basis for actual labor concerns or legal proceedings. To learn more about working in Qatar, visit the Qatar Government Portal Official Website.