The Public Authority for Social Insurance reported that insured foreign workers in the private sector totaled 487,707 by the first quarter of 2026, highlighting ongoing reliance on expatriate labor. The data, released in the authority’s latest statistical bulletin, shows male workers account for 89.3 percent and females 10.7 percent, while the report also details wage, age distribution, and recent growth trends.
Officials said the analysis covers contributors under both civil and private pension schemes and provides breakdowns by salary bands, age cohorts, and service tenure. The figures point to concentrated low-wage employment among foreign nationals and an aging segment that commands higher average pay.
Insured foreign workers: key statistics and recent trends
According to the Public Authority for Social Insurance, the total number of insured foreign workers in the private sector reached 487,707 as of Q1 2026. This represents a continuation of growth since 2022, apart from a slight 1 percent dip in 2023, with 464,304 insured foreign workers recorded in 2022.
Year-on-year comparisons show an 11 percent increase from 2021 to 2022 and subsequent growth rates of roughly 2 percent for both 2024 and 2025. The first quarter of 2026 registered a modest rise of 0.22 percent, the report indicates, suggesting stabilization after earlier fluctuations.
Wage distribution and monthly salaries
Wage data reveal that the majority of insured foreign workers earn relatively low monthly wages. The statistics show 71 percent of expatriate insured workers—339,472 individuals—receive less than 200 dinars per month. Within that group, 315,595 are male and 23,877 are female, the authority reported.
Secondary salary bands include 14 percent earning between 200 and 399 dinars, and 8 percent in the 400 to 599 dinar range. Higher wage brackets are smaller: approximately 5 percent of insured foreign workers earn 1,000 dinars or more (22,001 people), about 2 percent fall in the 600–799 dinar range, and roughly 1 percent earn 800–999 dinars.
Gender differences appear in average monthly pay, with males averaging 259 dinars and females averaging 359 dinars, according to the analysis. Furthermore, the highest mean monthly earnings are concentrated among older cohorts, illustrating a wage-age correlation in the private labor market.
Age distribution and workforce profile
The age distribution of insured foreign workers is skewed toward prime working ages. The largest cohort is the 30–39 age group, which accounts for 33 percent of the insured expatriate workforce. Workers aged 40–49 make up 28 percent, while the 20–29 age bracket comprises 24 percent.
Older workers—those aged 50–59—represent about 11 percent, and individuals over 60 constitute 2 percent. Young workers under 20 account for roughly 1 percent. The report lists the average insured worker age as 38, with an average entry age to the labor market of 29 and an average of nine years of recorded service.
Average monthly salaries rise with age: the 60-plus group posts the highest mean at 653 dinars, followed by 476 dinars for the 50–59 cohort and 326 dinars for those aged 40–49. By contrast, workers under 20 earn the lowest average at 72 dinars per month, underscoring significant dispersion across life stages.
Implications for the private sector and policy makers
The concentration of insured foreign workers in low-wage brackets has multiple implications for labor markets, public finances, and social policy. Employers in labor-intensive sectors may rely heavily on expatriate workers for cost-efficiency, while pension and social insurance schemes must account for demographic and tenure patterns when projecting future liabilities, the report suggests.
Policy-makers monitoring nationalization or workforce localization initiatives will find these statistics relevant, as changes in hiring practices could affect both wage structures and contribution bases. Furthermore, the higher average wages among older expatriates point to experience-related pay gains that could influence retention strategies and retirement planning.
Related labor market context
Analysts note that wage band concentration and the predominance of male workers reflect sectoral employment patterns such as construction, manufacturing, and certain service industries. Meanwhile, the relatively higher female average wage may reflect occupational sorting where women in expatriate roles occupy different job categories or receive different compensation structures.
Remittance flows, household incomes, and consumption patterns in expatriate communities will also be shaped by these wage and age profiles, which in turn affect broader economic indicators. The authority’s data offer a baseline for researchers and officials assessing labor market resilience and social protection coverage.
What to watch next
Stakeholders should monitor quarterly releases from the Public Authority for Social Insurance for revisions and for how policy changes affect insured foreign workers. Upcoming indicators to watch include shifts in salary band shares, gender composition changes, and the pace of growth recorded across subsequent quarters.
Future policy announcements regarding employment rules, pension eligibility, or sector-specific labor reforms could materially alter the composition and compensation of insured foreign workers. Observers should expect more granular analysis from the authority in annual reports, which will clarify long-term trends and fiscal implications.