Abstract
This research study is a comprehensive exploration of employment trends in Bahrain and the GCC region, comprising six informative chapters. The first chapter, which is an introduction, establishes the motivation and goals of the study and provides a detailed overview of the challenges associated with individual employment preferences. It identifies gaps in the current literature and outlines the research methodology employed, including data collection procedures, analytical techniques, and empirical findings. Finally,the chapter concludes by summarising the upcoming thesis chapters, highlightingtheir central themes and contributions.
The second chapter of the study provides an in-depth look into the background of the research. It explores the concept of a career, from its definition to the various factors that influence the career choices and employment preferences of young individuals. The chapter also delves into the theoretical foundation of the study, which is based on the random utility theory. It discusses the survey conducted to gather empirical data and provides a detailed analysis of the socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants. This chapter serves as a crucial foundation for the subsequent chapters of the study.
The third chapter is the first empirical chapter of the study. In this chapter, the
factors influencing individuals’ choices regarding employment in the private sector or switching from the public to the private sector are investigated. The analysis relies on a comprehensive survey that enables the consideration of numerous factors, which are categorised into influential employment domains. The results indicate that enhancing the living and growth employment domains is essential to persuading people to consider working in the private sector. Additionally, individuals need greater access to information and assurances regarding private sector employment. The chapter identifies the factors for private sector job information and preparation and analyses initiatives to provide and communicate information and assurances to job seekers. The study holds important implications for the realisation of strategies aimed at curbing the growth of the inflated public sector and promoting employment in and fostering job creation within the private sector.
The fourth chapter delves into the second empirical study, which aims to identify the factors that influence the willingness of young individuals in Bahrain to search for information regarding private sector jobs. An extensive literature review helped identify 12 key factors that could potentially influence the employment choices of young individuals. However, after analysing the results of the survey, it was found that a higher starting salary and work-life balance were the two most important factors that young individuals in Bahrain consider when looking for information about private sector jobs. The findings have important policy implications for the Bahraini government as they seek to increase
employment opportunities for young individuals within the private sector.
The fifth chapter of the research delves into the third empirical study, which examines the intention of young individuals to pursue employment in the private sector. The study utilised a choice modelling experiment. The literature and the pilot study allowed the categorisation of career attributes into seven different categories, ultimately creating public-private employment indexes to measure trade-offs between public and private sector employment. The results were intriguing, revealing that Bahraini youth are equally interested in both public and private sector employment. These findings have significant implications for policymakers in Bahrain’s government, providing valuable insights on how to guide young individuals towards private sector opportunities. Finally, the overall
discussion and conclusion are in the sixth chapter of this study.
| Date of Award | 27 Jun 2025 |
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| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Shabbar Jaffry (Supervisor) & Oleg Badunenko (Supervisor) |