Saudi Arabia Ranks First among G20 Countries in Productivity Growth

Governmental initiatives and programs contributed to raising the rate of worker production in the Saudi labor market (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Governmental initiatives and programs contributed to raising the rate of worker production in the Saudi labor market (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Ranks First among G20 Countries in Productivity Growth

Governmental initiatives and programs contributed to raising the rate of worker production in the Saudi labor market (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Governmental initiatives and programs contributed to raising the rate of worker production in the Saudi labor market (Asharq Al-Awsat)

After successfully introducing development initiatives and programs to regulate the labor market and improve the contractual relationship between employers and employees, Saudi Arabia has managed to secure first place among the Group of 20 countries (G20) for factor productivity growth in 2022.

According to a series of modeled readings issued by the International Labor Organization (ILO) annually on worker productivity, Saudi Arabia has achieved top place among G20 countries with a 4.9% gain.

This gain represents the Kingdom’s highest productivity growth rate, which was -6.3% in 2019.

Following that, the productivity growth rate increased to 4.4% in 2021 before peaking in 2022.

Much of this is mainly attributed to the efforts of the Kingdom’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in collaboration with government agencies.

This comes as they have contributed in this achievement through the initiatives in developing and organizing the Saudi labor market, enhancing its attractiveness, and improving its productive efficiency in accordance with the labor market strategy.

In 2021, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz launched the Human Capability Development Program to boost Saudi Arabia’s competitiveness both locally and globally.

The Human Capability Development Program aims to ensure that Saudi citizens have the required capabilities to compete globally by instilling values and developing basic and future skills, as well as enhancing knowledge.

The Crown Prince affirmed that the Human Capability Development Program is one of the programs to achieve the Kingdom's Vision 2030, readying citizens for the current and future labor market with capabilities and ambition that compete with the world, through the promotion of values, and the development of basic and future skills, and knowledge development.

Moreover, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development launched in 2020 an initiative to improve contractual relationships between employers and employees.



Trump’s Tariffs Mean Europe Must Take Control of Its Future, Says ECB's Lagarde

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde arrives to address a press conference on the Eurozone's monetary policy, at the central bank's headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on January 30, 2025. (AFP)
European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde arrives to address a press conference on the Eurozone's monetary policy, at the central bank's headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on January 30, 2025. (AFP)
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Trump’s Tariffs Mean Europe Must Take Control of Its Future, Says ECB's Lagarde

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde arrives to address a press conference on the Eurozone's monetary policy, at the central bank's headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on January 30, 2025. (AFP)
European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde arrives to address a press conference on the Eurozone's monetary policy, at the central bank's headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on January 30, 2025. (AFP)

The likely implementation of tariffs imposed by the United States on April 2 means Europe will have to take better control of its future, European Central Bank (ECB) head Christine Lagarde said on Monday.

"I've tried to describe this as a moment for our Europe... and I see it as the start of a march towards independence," Lagarde said in an interview on France Inter radio

"He calls it Liberation Day in the United States. I see it as a moment when we must together decide to take better control of our destiny, and I think it's a step towards independence."

Trump is set to announce a comprehensive tariff proposal on what he's called "Liberation Day" this Wednesday, after implementing levies on aluminium, steel, and automobiles, along with increased tariffs on all goods from China.

"He's someone who always takes a transactional approach. He applies this kind of principle, which is more in the realm of business, to the management of international relations," Lagarde said.

The ECB President reaffirmed her estimate of a decrease of about 0.3 percentage points for Europe in the first year of tariffs on US imports from Europe.

She added that if Europe responds with reciprocal measures, growth will be even lower, down 0.5 percentage points.