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.



IMF Projects Pessimistic Outlook on MENA Economies

Traffic moves during a sandstorm in Doha on April 15, 2025. (AFP)
Traffic moves during a sandstorm in Doha on April 15, 2025. (AFP)
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IMF Projects Pessimistic Outlook on MENA Economies

Traffic moves during a sandstorm in Doha on April 15, 2025. (AFP)
Traffic moves during a sandstorm in Doha on April 15, 2025. (AFP)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday gave a pessimistic outlook for economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for the next two years, the second similar projection in a row in 2025.

The IMF released an update to its World Economic Outlook compiled in just 10 days after US President Donald Trump announced universal tariffs on nearly all trading partners and higher rates - currently suspended - on many countries.

Across the broader MENA region, the IMF anticipated economic growth to average 2.6% in 2025, before climbing to 3.4% in 2026, representing a decrease by around 0.9 percentage points and 0.5 percentage points compared to previous forecasts.

The IMF had downgraded its growth forecast for the region last January from its October projection. According to figures from the fund, the region's economy grew by 1.8% last year.

Within MENA, IMF projected oil exporters including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Algeria and Qatar, to witness a 2.6% growth this year and 3.1% next year.

In return, in oil-importing nations such as Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, economies are projected to grow to 3.6% in 2025 and to 4.1% in 2026.

The Fund said futures markets indicate that oil prices will average $66.9 per barrel in 2025, a 15.5% decline, before falling to $62.4 in 2026.

The IMF cut the forecast for Saudi Arabia's GDP growth in 2025 to 3% versus a January estimate of a 3.3% increase. IMF also reduced the projection for growth in 2026 by 0.4 percentage point to 3.7%.

In Iraq, the IMF expected a modest rebound in 2026, with growth forecast at 1.4%. This marks a steep downgrade from October 2024, when it had projected 4.1% growth for Iraq in 2025.

In Egypt, it saw growth coming in at a 3.8% y-o-y clip this fiscal year, up 0.2 percentage points from its January forecast.

In Morocco, IMF said the economy could grow by 3.9% in 2025 and maintain steady momentum with 3.7% the following year.