11.2 Million Saudis Join Private Employment Market

According to the Labor Observatory statistics, the total number of workers in the private sector reached about 10.9 million. (SPA)
According to the Labor Observatory statistics, the total number of workers in the private sector reached about 10.9 million. (SPA)
TT

11.2 Million Saudis Join Private Employment Market

According to the Labor Observatory statistics, the total number of workers in the private sector reached about 10.9 million. (SPA)
According to the Labor Observatory statistics, the total number of workers in the private sector reached about 10.9 million. (SPA)

A new report has shown that the Saudi private sector employment market has for the first time incorporated over 11.2 million employees, 8.8 of whom are expatriates and 2.3 million are Saudi nationals.
The increase in the number of Saudis in the employment market comes at a time when the unemployment rate among Saudis recorded the lowest level at 7.7 percent during the last quarter of 2023.
This is very close to the Vision 2030 unemployment target of 7 percent, thanks to the increase in the number of female workers and the government’s efforts to create more job opportunities for Saudis.
In its statistical figures, the National Labor Observatory said on Wednesday that over 28.1 thousand citizens joined, for the first time, the private sector’s labor force last March.
According to the Observatory, 9.9 million employees in the private sector are males, while the number of females touched 1.3 million.



Saudi-Japanese Business Council Discusses Investment Opportunities

Saudi and Japanese official attend a meeting of the Saudi-Japanese business council in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)
Saudi and Japanese official attend a meeting of the Saudi-Japanese business council in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)
TT

Saudi-Japanese Business Council Discusses Investment Opportunities

Saudi and Japanese official attend a meeting of the Saudi-Japanese business council in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)
Saudi and Japanese official attend a meeting of the Saudi-Japanese business council in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)

The Saudi-Japanese business council convened in Riyadh on Sunday to explore avenues for strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations across diverse economic sectors.

The meeting was headed by Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih and Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto Yoji. It brought together several ministers, CEOs of major Saudi and Japanese companies, and representatives from both countries' public and private sectors.

Officials reviewed the significant achievements made since the seventh ministerial meeting within the Saudi-Japanese Vision 2030.

It explored numerous areas of growing cooperation and identified promising investment opportunities in vital sectors such as clean energy, financial services, critical minerals, special economic zones, health and biotechnology, water, e-sports, advanced and electronic industries, and more.

The meeting witnessed the signing of 13 memoranda of understanding, demonstrating the growing momentum in bilateral cooperation. The agreements, covering healthcare, infrastructure, and logistics sectors, were signed between government and private sector entities and amongst private sector companies from both countries.