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Middle East Edition
20th August 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Only 5% of Afghan labour market is female

The International Labour Organization (ILO) says that only 5.1% of workers in Afghanistan are women, a significant decline from 16.5% in 2020. Afghanistan has the second lowest female labour force participation rate globally, trailing only Yemen. The ILO highlighted severe restrictions on women's access to education and employment since the Taliban regained power in 2021. It has called for urgent steps to counter women's "severe exclusion," saying this is essential to aid the Afghan economy more generally. "Afghanistan cannot build a resilient labour market while such a large share of its population remains excluded from economic activity," observed Tite Habiyakare, senior coordinator and head of the ILO office for Afghanistan.
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CYBERSECURITY

DOJ secures indictment of Iranians accused of cyber theft campaign

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has unsealed a 14-count indictment against 17 Iranian nationals who are accused of conducting a cyber theft campaign on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The indictment alleges that the group targeted at least 144 US universities, 178 foreign universities, and 42 US private companies, stealing over 31 terabytes of academic data and intellectual property. US Attorney Jamie McDonald said: “These charges reveal the broader network allegedly behind a sweeping, state-sponsored campaign to steal research and intellectual property.” The charges include conspiracy to commit computer instructions and wire fraud. Maximum sentences range from five to 20 years. The State Department is offering a reward of up to $10m for information on five of the defendants.
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HIRING

Over 258k Saudis join workforce in Q2

In the second quarter of 2026, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development reported over 419,000 employment contracts signed, with 258,829 new Saudis joining the workforce. The Qiwa platform recorded more than 3m services, enhancing digital service efficiency in line with Saudi Vision 2030. The ministry issued 72,407 Saudization certificates to businesses, promoting national talent participation. The platform also received international accolades, including the World Summit on the Information Society Prize and the 2026 Gulf Customer Experience Award, reflecting its global recognition and commitment to improving the local labour market.
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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Gulf youth achieve advanced levels in ICT skills

Data from the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-STAT) reveals that young people in GCC nations have surpassed global peers in various information and communication technology (ICT) skills. Government spending on education in some GCC countries reached about 17% in 2024, above the global average of 12.6%. Notably, GCC youth achieved 100% proficiency in file-copying skills and 95.2% in social networking skills. These advancements align with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in enhancing education and preparing youth for future labour market demands.

MoF, DIFC partner to develop next generation of financial leaders

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) in Dubai has partnered with DIFC Academy to launch the Certified Chief Finance Director Programme and the Certified Financial Consultant Programme. The initiative aims to enhance leadership and advisory skills within the financial sector, addressing the specific needs of financial executives. Younis Haji AlKhoori, Undersecretary of the MoF, said: "Our strategic partnership represents a key milestone in advancing leadership capabilities." The programmes will focus on leadership development, artificial intelligence, financial analysis, and strategic planning, offering flexible learning options to accommodate professionals' schedules.
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INTERNATIONAL

UK employers stuck in 'low-hire, low-fire' mode

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has urged UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to partly reverse former finance minister Rachel Reeves's £25bn payroll tax increase to ease the cost burden on businesses so they can push ahead with hiring plans. British employers remain reluctant to hire and confidence has stayed near its weakest ​levels since the pandemic, according to ‌a poll from the HR lobby group. James Cockett, the CIPD's senior labour market economist said: "Our data suggests that the UK labour market has largely stopped moving. Hiring has weakened, but redundancy levels haven't risen, leaving us in a 'low-hire, low-fire' environment that's increasingly looking like a 'new normal'."

Most Japanese companies have yet to fully embrace AI, poll suggests

A Reuters survey indicates that more than four in five Japanese ​firms use AI in only a limited capacity in their operations or not at all. About 60% of respondents said AI is being used only in some parts of their business or in other limited ways, another 18% said they have not decided whether to introduce AI ​into the workplace, and 6% are not even considering adoption of the technology. A government report earlier this year showed Japan was behind peers ​in AI adoption, with 86.4% of local firms using generative AI for at least one task, compared with China's 98.1%, Germany's 91.6% and the United States' 90.9%.

Canada moves to tackle manufacturing skills gap

Canada has launched the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Alliance to address workforce shortages in the manufacturing sector. Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu announced the initiative in Guelph, Ontario, saying that many workers lack the necessary skills for current manufacturing demands. The alliance will unite manufacturers, unions, educators, and underrepresented groups to identify workforce gaps and develop training solutions. Jayson Myers, chief executive of Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen), said the future of advanced manufacturing ultimately comes down to people: "Advanced manufacturing may involve artificial intelligence, robotics, leading-edge technology, engineering and production processes, and supply chain resilience . . . [but] at the heart of it, it's all about people," he said.

Gas leak at Bangladesh shipbreaking yard kills at least nine workers

A suspected gas leak at the Ferdous Steel Ship Breaking Yard in Sitakunda, Bangladesh, has resulted in the deaths of at least nine workers, according to police inspector Mohammed Alamgir. An investigation is underway to determine the cause and whether safety measures were adequate. The shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh is a multi-billion dollar sector, accounting for approximately 36% of global ship scrapping and employing tens of thousands of workers.
 
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