Abu Dhabi: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Human Resources, Ahmed Al Rajhi, said the number of new entrants to the job market who had not previously worked reached more than 200,000 citizens, while the total number of citizens employed from the beginning of 2021 until the end of May exceeded 420,000, local media reported.
Al Rajhi revealed that more than 13,000 Saudi engineers benefited from the decision to localise the profession, and more than 84 per cent of engineers entering the labour market were Saudis since the decision took effect.
“More than 4,281 Saudi pharmacists and more than 15,000 Saudi accountants have benefited from the decisions to Saudise the pharmacy and accounting professions,” he said.
Al Rajhi indicated that the participation rate of women in the labour market reached 35 per cent, while the 2025 target was 30 per cent.
He added: “The Kingdom has succeeded in confronting the COVID-19 pandemic and protecting jobs, as the number of Saudis who entered the labour market exceeded what was before the pandemic.”
A decision to localise the legal consultancy sector, he said, will be implemented in two phases: the first targets localisong 50% of the jobs, while the second phase targets 70 per cent. It is estimated to create more than 5,000 jobs with a minimum salary of 5,500 riyals.
Another decision to localise the real estate professions will create more than 11,000 jobs for citizens.
Jobs in driving schools and cinemas will be fully localised and will provide more than 8,000 jobs and 3,000 jobs respectively.
