Unemployment in Qatar declined by 22.8 percent over the past 10 years but the gender gap in terms of average wages increased considerably, according to the Sustainability Development Indicators report released by the Qatar Statistics Authority (QSA) recently.

Unemployment rate fell from 3.9 per cent in 2001 to 0.5 per cent in 2011

Unemployment rate fell from 3.9 per cent in 2001 to 0.5 per cent in 2011. A further decline is expected in the next decade which requires more labor force to participate in completing the infrastructure and mega projects relevant to this event, said the report.

However, the gender gap in terms of average wages increased during the period, from 0.6 percent in 2001 to 22.7 percent in 2011 in favor of males, with an annual increase of about 43.8 percent.

The decline is "due to the fact that females cease work more than males, who work for more hours, especially expatriates. In addition social allowances are given to the male, because he is the main responsible person in the household regarding expenditures, while females receive less amount of these allowances," said the report.

Moreover, woman empowerment policies could be incapable, to some extent, to direct females toward new specializations required in the labor market, eg information technology, business management, private enterprises ... etc, which can generate more income to bridge the gender gap, it added.

Qatar is approaching the level reached by the developed countries concerning age indicator (80.3 years) where it did not exceed 69.3 years in most developing countries


The life expectancy saw a gradual increase, from 74.5 years in 2001, to 78.2 years in 2010, with an annual increase of 0.4. The increase in the value of this indicator expresses the large development in the standard of living of the population.

The state is approaching the level reached by the developed countries concerning age indicator (80.3 years) where it did not exceed 69.3 years in most developing countries.

Qatar surpassed the European countries in people's access to sanitation (98 percent)

Qatar surpassed the European countries in people's access to sanitation (98 percent) where the percentage of population with sufficient sanitation facilities is 94 percent, while it did not exceed 40 percent in Southeast Asia and African countries (34 percent), said the report.

The percentage of adults who obtained secondary degree increased from 54 percent of total population in 2001 to 66.9 percent in 2010

The Gross Intake Ratio to Last Grade of Primary Education witnessed a fluctuation over the period, but it exceeded 100 percent to reach 104.8 percent in 2009-2010. The percentage of adults who obtained secondary degree increased from 54 percent of total population in 2001 to 66.9 percent in 2010.

The adult literacy rate witnessed an increase in general, and during the last two years in particular. It increased from 90.2 per cent in 2001 to 96.3 percent in 2010.

Despite its fluctuation, death rate among children (below five years of age) witnessed an essential decline, where it was 11.3 per 1000 people in 2001, which declined to 8.5 in 2010.

Qatar is approaching the level of the developed countries, where the children (below five years of age) death rate amounted to seven per thousand

Qatar is approaching the level of the developed countries, where the children (below five years of age) death rate amounted to seven per thousand, whereas in developing countries amounted to 93 per thousand and in the least developing countries it was 110 per thousand.

"Due to the pursuance of child and mother care policy by the state and the increase of preventive health awareness within a wide sector of the society, it is anticipated that death rate among children (below five years of age) to decline more, and approach the Millennium Development Goals in 2015," said the report.
The Peninsula
30 October