Ministry launches first forum in GCC for labour market skills

The Ministry of Labour inaugurated the inaugural "First Gulf Forum for Labour Market Skills" forum, collaborating with the Executive Bureau of the GCC Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs, alongside the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST). Esteemed government officials, policy experts, private sector leaders, academic institution representatives, and international organisation delegates convened to deliberate on labour market skill development, workforce alignment, and educational frameworks integration with regional employment demands amid swift technological and economic transformations.

Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman bin Nasser al-Thani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour, underscored that cultivating human capital and enhancing skills are foundational to boosting productivity, economic competitiveness, and sustainable growth. She stressed the criticality of tri-sector collaboration among government, academic institutions, and private enterprises to establish a dynamic, future-oriented workforce ecosystem.

Mohammed al-Obaidli, Director-General of the Executive Bureau of the GCC Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs, highlighted the paramount importance of regional cooperation in empowering GCC nationals. He outlined the ongoing endeavors to establish a unified Gulf-wide skills framework, standardize professional qualifications, and harmonize vocational training requirements to adapt to evolving labor needs.

Dr Salem al-Naemi, President of UDST, emphasized the necessity of forging industry-academic partnerships to design flexible curricula. He noted that higher education programs must adapt swiftly to digital advancements, artificial intelligence (AI), and the shift towards a green economy, preparing national talent for future labor dynamics.

The forum featured four focused panel discussions: one on investing in skills to expedite national workforce integration, another on constructing a resilient regional skills framework, a third on mapping talent needs across key economic sectors, and a final session on leveraging small and medium-sized enterprises to bolster economic resilience and job creation.