Doha: The Employment Standards Office of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), a leading onshore financial and business centre in the region, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) – Doha Office and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), conducted a skills study in the financial sector, and has subsequently, launched a landmark policy brief titled “Identifying Skills Needs in Qatar’s Financial Sector – A QFC Perspective for Policymakers”.
The brief was published on a globally recognised ILO platform, underscoring Qatar’s commitment to future-ready workforce planning and inclusive labour policy.
The policy brief offers data-driven insights into the current and emerging skills most in demand across QFC-licensed firms, covering areas such as digital finance, risk analysis, regulatory compliance, ESG awareness, data literacy, and human capital leadership. It also serves as a practical guide for policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders to align talent development strategies with the country’s economic diversification goals and national workforce agenda.
The brief reflects the Employment Standards Office’s broader mandate to promote transparent and fair labour practices and a human-centred approach to enhancing business performance and productivity, in line with the Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030, the Third National Development Strategy, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and the “Social” element of the Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) metrics.
By promoting and monitoring regulatory compliance, the Employment Standards Office ensures that employment standards and policies not only uphold the rights of individuals but also strengthen the integrity of the QFC ecosystem.
Emphasising QFC’s ongoing commitment to advancing Qatar’s long-term development goals, Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, CEO, QFC, said: “Multi-stakeholder collaborations are critical in designing workforce policies that not only support Qatar’s economic ambitions but also advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. By drawing on diverse perspectives and expertise, we can build more inclusive and resilient markets that deliver long-term value to both people and the economy.”
Luigia Ingianni, Commissioner of the Employment Standards Office, QFC, added: This study particularly reinforces our dedication to promoting and achieving SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals), and highlights the benefits of a collaborative approach to creating inclusive and sustainable employment practices in the financial sector.”
Reflecting on the evolving role of the Employment Standards Office in supporting Qatar in pursuing the Third National Development Strategy and its “Future-Ready Workforce” objective, Maha Tawfik, Head of Monitoring and Labour Affairs at Employment Standards Office, QFC, remarked: “Our responsibility is to ensure regulatory frameworks are informed by comprehensive and robust data, enabling targeted interventions that cultivate a resilient, adaptive, and inclusive financial sector workforce. For this reason, we have established the Labour Market Information System to collect and analyse labour market data and trends and define policies to address the gaps and make the workforce ready for the future of work. This alignment with both national priorities and international labour standards is essential to fostering sustainable growth and equitable opportunities in Qatar’s fast-evolving economic landscape.”
