Economic recession and international labour migration in the Arab Gulf

"The article examines the broad effects of economic recession on immigrant labour flows into the Arab Gulf states. Attention is focussed on Kuwait which has experienced a significant reduction in new expatriate labour inflows since 1983. At the same time, however, the increasing rate of work permit renewals and of job transfers within the labour market suggest a growing stability of the expatriate workforce. As a result it is concluded that the economic recession may not result in a significant draw-down on expatriate labour stocks."