It is probably fair to discuss the unemployment challenge in the Arab world against the backdrop of the meeting of Arab labour ministers in Bahrain. To be sure, this is a serious issue, as half of the jobless happen to be youths, with women making up three-quarters of the unemployed.

The average unemployment rate stands at 14 per cent in the Arab countries collectively. Still, by one account, the rate exceeds the average in half the Arab countries. The Arab League comprises 22 members including Palestine. It is argued that the unemployment rate runs as high as 50 per cent in some Palestinian territories notably Gaza, reflecting the Israeli blockade.

Suffers

Still, there is the issue of underemployment in many Arab countries, as some employees have jobs not commensurate with their qualifications. For instance, some graduates work as taxi drivers in numerous Arab countries in the absence of alternatives for securing a means of living.

Undoubtedly, Arab countries cannot attain their economic potential with relatively high unemployment and underemployment levels. Certainly, society as a whole suffers when men and women graduates, equipped with the latest educational background, cannot find suitable jobs.

Despite all talk of brotherhood, Arab countries do not allow unrestricted access to fellow Arabs desiring to work in Arab League nations spread over two continents — namely Asia and Africa. At the same time, calls to open up Arab countries for fellow Arabs are falling on deaf ears.

In fact, Arab countries have a long way to go to integrate their economies, having started the customs union project only in 2010 with completion set in 2015. This decision was adopted during the second Arab Economic, Development and Social Summit, convened in Kuwait in January 2009.

Within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, unemployment is a noted challenge in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia stands out for admitting the presence of a serious unemployment problem among its nationals, more than 10 per cent according to the latest available statistics.

Not surprisingly, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs restricts some 40 types of occupations to nationals, as a means of addressing the jobless debacle. These include taxi drivers, training and purchasing managers, public relations officers, administrative assistants, secretaries, operators, debt collectors, customer service accountants, tellers, postmen, data handlers, librarians, booksellers, ticket kiosk keepers, auto salesmen, janitors, internal mail handlers and tour guides. Officials contend that Saudis prefer such professions.

However, such restrictions are not popular with the business community, in turn considered as interference in the way employers make decisions. What is not clear as well is the adverse effects of such restrictions on matters such as productivity and customer service.

Bahraini authorities claim to have brought unemployment under control. However, this is a far cry from reality reflecting the underemployment matter. As in the case of other Arab countries, some Bahraini nationals end up having no choice other than accepting job offers considerably below their qualifications in terms of education and experience. Still, there is a problem with statistics, as officials do not consider part-time job holders and those not actively seeking employment as unemployed. Unfortunately, women make up 85 per cent of unemployed nationals in Bahrain.

Population growth

Arab labour ministers meeting in Bahrain for their 37th session, the first of its kind with GCC, have to adopt the means to link education to job market requirements. Otherwise, the job challenge can only get worse with an average population growth of 2.4 per cent. The combined population of Arab countries could reach as high as 500 million by 2025 from the current level of around 350 million.

The writer is a Member of Parliament in Bahrain