DOHA: The petrochemical and chemical industry in the Gulf in 2013 created directly and indirectly over half a million jobs and manufactured products worth over $102bn, according to Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA).
The petrochemical and chemical industry employed (directly) 148,900 people. The employment, along with those employed by supporting industries, led to the creation of additional 446,700 jobs, bringing the total number of jobs that rely on the downstream hydrocarbon industry to 595,600.
Strengthened by an expanding petrochemical sector and multi-billion-dollar investments, Saudi Arabia’s petrochemical industry employed directly 83,700 people, accounting for over half of the Gulf’s petrochemical industry’s workforce. The UAE is the second largest market in terms of people, employing for 38,100 professionals — over 25 percent of the region’s chemical employees.
Statistics show that for the GCC petrochemical industry, the multiplier effect is around 1:3, as every 10 jobs directly created by the sector leads to additional 30 indirect employment opportunities in the chemicals supply chain.
“Petrochemicals sector is evolving into an industry that touches nearly every sector of the GCC economy, from supply chain, equipment manufacturing, construction and agriculture to retail and trade,” said Dr Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, Secretary-General, GPCA.
The GCC’s petrochemical industry’s capacity has grown consistently at 9.5 percent year-on-year since 2008 and produces 140.5m tonnes of products, while employment has risen cumulatively by 12.2 percent in the same period. Petrochemicals are the region’s second largest manufacturing sector in terms of contribution to GDP and the largest manufacturing employer, after metals, minerals and the food industry.
GCC nationals make up 56 percent of the industry’s workforce. Bahrain accounts for the highest number of nationals working in the industry, with 83 percent of the chemical workforce being Bahraini, followed by Saudi Arabia, where 63 percent of the industry’s employees are Saudi.
“Over the last few years, the Gulf’s petrochemical industry has developed a solid base of skilled human capital, which is a crucial component in ensuring long-term development of the industry. While the sector is taking solid steps towards economic and environmental sustainability, these strides would have little effect if it were not for human resources. Skilled talent is crucial for the industry’s growth and global competitiveness,” said Dr Al Sadoun.
The Peninsula
