As part of the Skills Bahrain initiative, the Labour Fund “Tamkeen” has unveiled a new report highlighting the skills and jobs in demand in Bahrain’s accounting sector. This report, developed in collaboration with the private sector leaders and industry experts, is an important step towards bridging the skills gap and unlocking promising career opportunities for students and professionals interested in this vital field.
The report supports national efforts to align workforce capabilities with labour market demands, enhancing the competitiveness of Bahraini talent. The report explores the diverse career pathways within accounting, ranging from roles in top-tier accounting firms to positions in financial departments across industries like retail, healthcare, and education.
It also highlights the potential for Bahraini professionals to gain international experience and contribute to major projects, through collaborations with multinational companies operating in Bahrain. Additionally, the report showcases the critical role of Bahraini accounting firms in providing training and professional development, empowering the local talent to excel.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Amer Marhoon, Managing Director of Skills Bahrain, said:
“This report is a significant tool that will help address the skills gap in the accounting sector. It offers a detailed analysis of in-demand technical skills and identifies emerging job opportunities. By aligning with market needs, these reports enable Tamkeen to shape effective programmes that prepare local talent to meet the evolving demands of the industry.”
Skills Bahrain is an initiative that operates under the umbrella of the Labour 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 2024:
Tamkeen has announced the launch of a new sector skills report highlighting the skills and jobs required in Bahrain’s Hospitality and Tourism sector.
The report aims to support the development of key professional skills aligned with the evolving needs of Bahrain’s labor market whilst enhancing employment opportunities in the sector. This initiative reflects Bahrain’s commitment to nurturing its local talent, which serves as a cornerstone to achieving sustainable development.
The report identifies the Hospitality and Tourism sector as a key contributor to the Kingdom’s economy, emphasizing its pivotal role in creating diverse job opportunities that empower Bahraini talent to thrive in this dynamic industry.
Bahrain’s competitive advantages make it a unique destination in the Hospitality and Tourism sector. Examples of these advantages are its strategic location in the heart of the Arabian Gulf, its rich cultural heritage, and its advanced infrastructure, which collectively position the Kingdom as a preferred choice for tourists and business travelers alike.
Mr. Amer Marhoon, the Managing Director of Skills Bahrain, commented:
“We are proud to have launched eight skills reports this year in collaboration with various public and private sector entities. These reports aim to identify the skills and occupations in demand in light of the evolving labor market. We remain committed to publishing similar reports to address the needs of the labor market, and to guide both job seekers and those already working in these sectors.”
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.
Skills Bahrain and the Information and e-Government Authority today hosted a media briefing to introduce the Employability Skills Portal, which was officially launched by His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa bin Salman Educational Charitable Trust and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), during a ceremony held last week to officially inaugurate the Skills Bahrain initiative.
The Employability Skills Portal, the first-of-its-kind in the region, was developed in collaboration between the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), through its Skills Bahrain initiative, and the Information & eGovernment Authority. It offers key labor market data through its dedicated platform, which can be viewed on: www.esp.bh
The platform reflects the joint efforts of Tamkeen, the Information & eGovernment Authority, and other labor market stakeholders in providing relevant and reliable labor market data. By integrating and analyzing information secured from several sources, the portal delivers a holistic view of Bahrain’s labor market, enabling individuals and organizations to access key data transparently in order to aid in their decision making, while also helping design support programs and targeted solutions that are aligned with the needs of the market.
The Employability Skills Portal serves a wide range of groups, including students, parents, job seekers, employees, employers, and education and training providers in order to support informed decision-making in key areas like education, training, and labor market trends by providing data-driven insights. It also highlights in-demand skills and jobs across sectors based on research conducted by Tamkeen’s Skills Bahrain initiative.
Mr. Amer Marhoon Managing Director - Skills Bahrain said: “The launch of the Employability Skills Portal marks a major milestone in Tamkeen’s commitment to creating an ecosystem where Bahrainis are the employee of choice in the labor market. The portal also provides job seekers and graduates with the tools they need to make well-informed career decisions. Furthermore, it enables Tamkeen to strategically design programs and human capital development initiatives that address skills gaps by utilizing reliable, data-driven market data. At Tamkeen, we will also ensure that our programs and initiatives are updated based on the latest available data to reflect the dynamic nature of Bahrain’s labor market, thus enhancing employment opportunities for Bahrainis”
Mr. Marhoon also commended the efforts of Team Bahrain and the ongoing collaboration between the various entities involved in providing and regularly updating the data to ensure the accuracy of the information available on the portal.
Dr. Khalid AlMutawa, Deputy Chief Executive for Operation & Governance at the Information and eGovernment Authority highlighted the significance of the Employability Skills Portal, saying: “The Portal provides comprehensive and integrated data on the most critical skills and jobs in demand within the labor market. This initiative underscores our commitment to furthering digital transformation and leveraging advanced technology and artificial intelligence to support Bahrain’s high-value sectors. It is the product of a joint collaboration between the IGA, Tamkeen, the Skills Bahrain initiative, and other government entities, resulting in the development of this key national project.”
Dr. Khalid AlMutawa stated that Portal utilizes the latest technologies and systems to facilitate electronic integration between government databases. This ensures a seamless flow of primary labor market data, which is then analyzed using cloud computing technology to provide insights for policymakers to shape employment strategies for both the public and private sectors. He noted that this approach helps save time, enhances efficiency, and accelerates progress.
He added that the IGA leverages the capabilities of the National Cloud, utilizing the National “Data Lake” to store information from twelve data owners/providers. This data is then securely integrated into the portal’s database through encrypted electronic connections.
The portal features multiple dashboards that, in its initial phase, focus on data related to the private sector. One such dashboard showcases private sector statistics, presenting information on the number of employees across sectors by age group, allowing users to explore specific professions by comparing employment data, job roles, and average industry wages. Additional dashboards are tailored to various audience groups, providing insights including enrollment and graduation statistics across academic specializations, as well as a university guide detailing available academic programs.
The Employability Skills Portal provides information shared by various ministries, government authorities, and local organizations, including the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Education, the Social Insurance Organization, higher education institutes, and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen). The Information & eGovernment Authority vets the data before it is integrated into the portal. Additionally, the Platform is currently in its initial phase, with plans for continuous updates and the future introduction of additional features and services.
To explore the Employability Skills Portal, please visit www.esp.bh
His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa bin Salman Educational Charitable Trust and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), emphasized that the national workforce of the Kingdom of Bahrain is the foundation of success and excellence across all industries. He praised the capabilities of Bahrainis in driving national development and achieving ambitious goals. Furthermore, His Highness highlighted the critical need for ongoing investment in nurturing Bahraini talent through training programs aimed at enhancing leadership skills and competitiveness.
HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman reiterated the commitment to implementing innovative and specialized initiatives that align with this vision, supporting comprehensive national development under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
At a launch ceremony attended by senior representatives from both the public and private sectors, His Highness officially unveiled the Skills Bahrain initiative and the Employability Skills Portal, which operate under the umbrella of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen). He emphasized that these ambitious initiatives represent a comprehensive vision aimed at holistically developing the labor market. This vision is centered on understanding market demands and leveraging data-driven insights to support the implementation of upskilling initiatives in collaboration with various organizations within the Team Bahrain ecosystem. These efforts are designed to provide the private sector with a highly skilled national workforce capable of driving economic growth.
The launch of Skills Bahrain marks a pivotal moment in Tamkeen’s efforts to bridge the skills gap. This initiative aims to strengthen collaboration among key government stakeholders, private sector leaders, and educational institutions to create a skills-based ecosystem that connects individuals with employers while offering reliable and relevant training opportunities, thus further enhancing skills development in the Kingdom.
Skills Bahrain conducts research in key economic sectors and analyses labor market data to identify skill gaps. These insights are used to guide relevant stakeholders in addressing the needs of the ecosystem.
The Initiative’s strategy is built around three key pillars. The first pillar, Engaged National Workforce, empowers Bahrainis with skills targeted at key sectors and high-value roles to ensure their readiness to enter the job market. The second, Involved Employers, relates to partnering with the private sector to highlight specific workforce needs, skills, and behaviors, and to help upskill and reskill the national workforce. The final pillar, Relevant and High-Quality Training, ensures that training aligns with private sector requirements in an ecosystem in which skills are validated and recognized.
The Employability Skills Portal, the first-of-its-kind platform in the region, is designed to empower students, job-seekers, employees, employers, and training and educational institutes, by providing essential data and insights into labor market dynamics. This initiative is the result of a partnership between Skills Bahrain, the Information & eGovernment Authority, and several key partners.
The tools and data provided by Skills Bahrain enable the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) to develop human capital initiatives and partnerships that enhance the skills and competitiveness of local talent, ensuring that Bahrainis remain the preferred workforce within the labor market.
