Gulf Statistical Bureau: Gulf Youth's Skills in Technology and Communications Exceed Global Averages
The Statistical Center of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries stated that Gulf youth have achieved advanced levels in several technology and communications skills, surpassing their global peers. In a report issued on the occasion of International Youth Day, which fell on August 12, the Center added that these levels “reflect the impact of investments directed toward education and human capacity building, thanks to the increasing attention GCC countries are paying to investing in education and developing youth skills.”
It noted that investment in education and human capacity building enhances youth readiness for technological transformations and future labor market demands, pointing out that government spending on education in some GCC countries reached approximately 17% in 2024, exceeding the global average of 12.6%.
The Center highlighted the growing importance of technology and communications skills among youth amid the rapid shift toward the digital economy, as these skills offer opportunities for empowerment in the labor market, stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship, support lifelong learning, and play a role in protecting privacy and promoting responsible digital citizenship.
The Center confirmed that Gulf youth recorded high performance in file copying skills at a rate of 100%, compared to 54% globally. The rate of possessing social media skills reached about 95.2%, compared to 68% globally. The percentage of youth possessing privacy settings skills was 75.9%, compared to 34% globally. In the field of information verification, the rate among GCC youth reached 61.6%, compared to 24% globally, while programming skills stood at approximately 31.8%, compared to 6% globally, underscoring the gap in the level of basic and advanced digital skills possessed by Gulf youth.
The Center stated that the focus on investing in education and developing human skills aligns with the GCC countries’ direction toward preparing a generation capable of keeping pace with technological transformations and labor market needs, and enhancing youth capacities with the knowledge and skills that enable them to participate actively in economic and social development.
In this context, it pointed out that these indicators are linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 1 on ending poverty, through the target related to the proportion of total government spending on basic services, including education. They are also linked to Goal 4 on quality education, which aims to achieve a substantial increase in the number of youth and adults who possess relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship by 2030.
