Wadha Al-Khatib, CEO of Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC)

The newspaper obtained a copy of an internal oil sector document, which revealed the percentage of Kuwaiti women working in KPC and its subsidiaries. It stated that the percentage of Kuwaiti women in senior management positions, such as deputy managing director and above, is 14 percent, while their representation in middle management positions, such as director and team leader, reached 20 percent. Among female employees holding a university degree with the title of senior administrator and below, the percentage is 32 percent, while the lowest category – those with a diploma or less – accounted for four percent. Meanwhile, statistics issued by the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS), a copy of which was obtained by the newspaper, revealed a decline of 606 in the number of insured employees in the oil sector within a year. The data stated that as of March 31, 2025, the number of insured oil workers totaled 21,703 and 18,300 of them are males with an average salary of KD 1,496, compared to 3,403 females with an average salary of KD 1,490. The overall average salary for workers in the sector is KD 1,472. In comparison, the statistics for the first quarter of 2024 showed 22,309 insured oil sector employees and 18,806 of them are males with an average salary of KD 1,466, and 3,503 are females with an average salary of KD 1,484. The overall average salary then was KD 1,496. Sources confirmed that several factors contributed to the decline in the number of insured employees in the oil sector, the most important of which is the retirement of many workers. Sources explained that the statistics covered only those currently insured and the retirees were excluded.

They pointed out that stricter enforcement of fingerprint attendance was a key factor in prompting some employees to opt for early retirement, in addition to the three-month recruitment freeze from December 2023 to March 2024. Sources confirmed that KPC continues to exert tremendous efforts to recruit nationals in its affiliated oil companies, as this remains a cornerstone for developing and maintaining oil production and operations. Accordingly, KPC is developing national talent by giving them a chance to undergo internal and external training programs in order to enhance their professional experience. Sources added that the percentage of national employment in KPC-affiliated companies is increasing steadily. Recently, KPC announced the results of employment tests for administrative specializations and other fields, along with upcoming job announcements this year that will further raise the percentage of Kuwaiti employees, especially since the overall direction of the corporation is towards intensifying Kuwaitization in the oil sector.