Manama, Bahrain – The Bahrain Skills and Gender Parity Accelerator held its second meeting with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Co-Chairs from the public and private sectors, marking a key milestone following its launch during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos earlier this year and the subsequent kick-off session, which established the Accelerator’s strategic direction and foundational pillars.

Coordinated by the “Skills Bahrain” initiative and jointly led by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), the accelerator aims to empower national talent with future-ready skills and advance women’s workforce participation, thereby reinforcing Bahrain’s long-term economic growth and global competitiveness.

The meeting was attended by Her Excellency Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board; and Her Excellency Maha Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), alongside the private sector Co-Chairs: His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Mumtalakat; His Excellency Khalid Al Rumaihi, Chairman of Alba; and Yaser Al Sharifi, Chairman of the Bahrain Association of Banks.

Discussions focused on key findings from the system-level analysis, which provided a data-driven foundation for identifying critical challenges within Bahrain’s skills ecosystem and opportunities to accelerate gender parity. The meeting also aligned stakeholders on priority pathways for the National Action Plan, supported by insights derived in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. Participants further explored practical approaches to address national skills gaps and capitalize on emerging opportunities, while drawing on the best global practices for local adaptation.

Her Excellency Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, said, ‘Our future-ready talent pool remains the driving force behind the Kingdom’s progress towards fostering a knowledge-driven economy. This collaboration with the World Economic Forum and Skills Bahrain places research-based data and insights at the foundation of this effort – enabling us to track outcomes and shape evidence-based strategies in partnership with the private sector that are directly aligned with Bahrain’s National Action Plan, reflecting our commitment to nurturing homegrown talent and closing the gender parity gap - cementing Bahrain’s earned standing as a trusted destination for investment.”Her Excellency Maha Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), noted that this phase establishes the foundation for a national action plan that strengthens public-private collaboration and responds to evolving labor market dynamics. She emphasized that Tameen remains committed to investing in Bahraini talent development, whilst focusing on empowering women and enhancing their participation in the national workforce.

Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum commented, ‘Bahrain’s Skills and Gender Parity Accelerator demonstrates how data-driven collaboration between government and business can unlock the full potential of the workforce and capitalize on the opportunities presented by a fast-evolving labor market. Ensuring that this transformation is inclusive is critical — and by combining a focus on skills and gender parity, this Accelerator has the potential to drive inclusive impact at scale.’

As the Accelerator transitions into the National Action Plan formulation stage, stakeholders will continue to collaborate with the World Economic Forum and private sector leaders to develop an evidence-based action-oriented framework to bridge skill gaps and promote gender parity across high-growth sectors. This collective effort reinforces Bahrain’s position as a leading hub for human capital development and future economic growth.

Manama, Bahrain – Skills Bahrain, an initiative under the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, organized a training workshop aimed at enhancing students’ awareness of labor market demands and guiding them toward future-oriented career p pathways. The session brought together 100 academic counselors from private schools.

The workshop aimed to equip counselors with the necessary tools and resources provided by Skills Bahrain, including the National Occupational Standards, Skills Reports, and Career Pathway Maps. Participants also explored the Employability Skills Portal — developed in partnership with the Information & eGovernment Authority — which provides access to labor market data and insights on in-demand skills and occupations.

Through practical activities, counselors learned how to integrate these resources into their guidance plans to support students in making informed academic and career choices that reflect both their interests and market trends.

Commenting on the workshop, Amer Marhoon, the Managing Director of Skills Bahrain, said: "At Skills Bahrain, we remain committed to supporting educational institutions by equipping academic counselors with market-driven tools and insights that enable students to make informed decisions.

Our collaboration with the Ministry of Education reflects our shared vision of promoting early career awareness and guiding students to pursue career pathways that align with their aspirations and future economic opportunities.

This approach enables us to better prepare the next generation to integrate effectively into the labor market."Ms Lulwa Ghassan Al-Muhanna, Director of the Private Schools Licensing & Follow-Up Directorate at the Ministry of Education, emphasised that empowering academic counsellors is key to strengthening the quality of guidance across private schools. She also highlighted the importance of continued collaboration with Skills Bahrain to ensure that career guidance is informed by reliable labour-market data and shaped around students’ aspirations and future goals.

Skills Bahrain is an initiative that operates under the umbrella of the Labor Fund “Tamkeen” which seeks to fill the skills gap of local talent resulting from the constant changes and development in the global labor market. Skills Bahrain works closely with employers, education & training providers, and government stakeholders, to bridge the skills gap by providing its stakeholders with the necessary intelligence, sector-specific data, and necessary tools.

It contributes to the transition from education to employment, and provides a clear path towards career development, therefore developing skilled and globally competitive Bahraini talent.

Manama, Bahrain – Tamkeen 2025: The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) has announced the launch of the Human Resources Skills Report under the "Skills Bahrain" initiative, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing professional skills, boosting workforce productivity, and strengthening the role of Bahraini talent in driving economic growth.

The report highlights key transformations in the human resources sector, both locally and globally, driven by technological advancements and shifting workforce expectations. It emphasizes the growing importance of integrating technology to enhance the efficiency of HR operations, improve productivity, and drive engagement in the workplace. This includes the use of artificial intelligence for CV screening and establishing recruitment metrics, as well as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms in areas such as recruitment, performance management, and employee benefits.

Developed in collaboration with private sector representatives and key stakeholders, the report highlights the most in-demand roles; Compensation and Benefits Manager, Learning and Development Professional, and Organizational Design and Development Professional. It also identifies key technical skills such as data analysis, policy writing and development, and organizational development, alongside essential core skills that enable success in the field, including adaptability, communication, empathy, initiative, and digital literacy.

Commenting on the report, Amer Marhoon, Managing Director of Skills Bahrain, highlighted the report’s significance in shaping human capital development strategies. He stated: "The insights derived from this report will help guide Tamkeen’s programs towards strengthening national competencies and preparing them for future workforce demands. The HR field is evolving rapidly, necessitating the adoption of innovative, technology-driven practices and data-driven decision-making to ensure businesses remain competitive in an ever-changing job market."

Skills Bahrain is an initiative that operates under the umbrella of the Labor Fund “Tamkeen” which seeks to fill the skills gap of local talent resulting from the constant changes and development in the global labor market. Skills Bahrain works closely with employers, education & training providers, and government stakeholders, to bridge the skills gap by providing its stakeholders with the necessary intelligence, sector-specific data, and necessary tools. It contributes to the transition from education to employment, and provides a clear path towards career development, therefore developing skilled and globally competitive Bahraini talent.