Vision 2030 report highlights lower unemployment, rising female employment and stronger skills development as labour reforms continue
Saudi Arabia has reported steady progress across its labour market and social development goals, with private sector employment reaching record levels and unemployment falling under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 programme.
- Vision 2030 report highlights lower unemployment, rising female employment and stronger skills development as labour reforms continue
- Private sector employment reaches 2.6 million
- Women’s workforce participation moves closer to 2030 target
- Skills development and workforce inclusion continue to improve
- Homeownership, healthcare and quality of life show further gains
- Vision 2030 maintains focus on economic diversification
The latest Vision 2030 Annual Report shows that more Saudi nationals are joining the private sector. At the same time, female workforce participation continues to rise. The report also highlights gains in skills development, homeownership and healthcare coverage as the Kingdom advances its economic diversification agenda.
Private sector employment reaches 2.6 million
Saudi nationals employed in the private sector increased to 2.6 million, compared with 1.7 million in 2020. The growth reflects continued labour market reforms and government efforts to create more employment opportunities for citizens.
Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate declined to 7.2%, down from 12.3% in 2016. According to the report, employment programmes, labour reforms and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have driven this improvement.
Furthermore, SMEs now employ 8.88 million people, surpassing the programme’s interim 2025 target of 7.55 million employees.
Women’s workforce participation moves closer to 2030 target
Women’s participation in Saudi Arabia’s labour force reached 35%, up from 22.8% when Vision 2030 launched in 2016. The Kingdom is now approaching its 40% target for 2030.
The report attributes the increase to several initiatives. These include flexible working arrangements, childcare support, improved transport options and wider access to employment across different industries.
In addition, women now occupy 43.9% of middle and senior management positions, reflecting broader efforts to strengthen female representation in leadership roles.
Skills development and workforce inclusion continue to improve
Saudi Arabia also reported progress in workforce inclusion and talent development.
The employment rate for persons with disabilities who are able to work reached 14.7%, exceeding the interim target of 13.4%. Workplace accessibility measures and employer incentives helped support this growth.
Moreover, 47.41% of technical and vocational education graduates secured employment within six months of graduation. The baseline stood at 13.9%, highlighting significant improvement in graduate employability.
The report also noted that more than 90 university partnership programmes have been established through the MicroX initiative. These partnerships aim to align higher education with labour market requirements.
Homeownership, healthcare and quality of life show further gains
Beyond employment, the report points to continued progress in living standards.
Homeownership increased to 66.24%, exceeding the programme’s interim target of 65%. Average life expectancy also rose to 79.7 years.
Additionally, healthcare coverage now reaches 97.5% of population clusters. Physical activity has also increased, with 59.1% of adults meeting recommended weekly exercise levels.
The report further highlights growth in volunteerism, corporate social responsibility programmes and the non-profit sector. Investments in tourism, culture and sports also continue to support broader social development goals.
Saudi Arabia has already achieved its Vision 2030 target of securing eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. At the same time, international tourism and religious pilgrimage continue to expand.
Vision 2030 maintains focus on economic diversification
Launched in 2016, Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia’s long-term strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil while expanding employment, investment and human capital development.
With five years remaining until the programme’s target year, the latest report indicates that several labour market and social development milestones have already met or exceeded interim goals. Meanwhile, other key objectives continue to advance toward their 2030 targets.
