The average monthly salary of Bahrainis working in the public sector rose by 14.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year to BD662 ($1,756) up from BD578 in the same period in 2010, said a report.

Labour Minister Jameel Humaidan submitted a report to the weekly Cabinet session which showed average salary of citizens in the private sector rose by 5.3 per cent to reach BD339, up from BD322.

The number of citizens paid less than BD250 shrank to 25 per cent from 33 per cent.

The unemployment rate stood at 3.8 per cent in the first quarter of this year, down from 4 per cent in the fourth quarter last year.

A total of 2,079 citizens were employed in the first quarter of this year. Vacancies totalled 8,592 and unemployed citizens 5,437. – TradeArabia News Service