MANAMA: A total of 4,888 Bahraini job-seekers have been employed in the past three months – a monthly average of 1,629.

The figures were released yesterday as His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting.

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, attended.

According to new statistics, the rate of unemployment has stabilised with only 4.3 per cent of the national workforce out of job.

The number of vacancies topped 5,387 – 58pc of which involved high school graduates and 22pc targeted degree holders.

The Premier stressed the importance of value-added and productive jobs to ensure decent work opportunities for citizens.

He also directed officials to reduce the jobless rate.

He gave instructions to upgrade statistical procedures to keep abreast of the rate of unemployment.

The Premier congratulated His Majesty King Hamad, the Crown Prince and BDF personnel on the 46th anniversary of Bahrain Defence Force.

The session stressed the crucial role of the force in bolstering Bahrain’s security and protecting development and democratic achievements.

Productivity

The Premier also stressed the need to optimise productivity of the public sector, and directed the Civil Service Bureau to assess government work performance and gauge obstacles hampering productivity.

The session discussed proposed cultural and artistic events marking Manama Capital of Asian Tourism 2014.

Co-operation with Morocco in civil service, administrative reform, e-Government and training was also spotlighted.