Latest data from the GCC labor market indicates that out of 24.6 million workers across the six-member states, about 19 million are expatriates, making up over 78% of the total workforce.

The authority behind the figures emphasized the importance of this statistic in shaping GCC-wide discussions on labor policies, nationalization programs, and cross-border workforce coordination.

This demographic reality underscores both the region’s heavy reliance on foreign talent and the growing focus on national workforce development initiatives across GCC countries.