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Saudi Arabia Launches Global Labor Market Academy in Partnership with the World Bank

Al-Rajhi addressing the audience during his opening speech at the conference (Asharq Al-Awsat). 
Al-Rajhi addressing the audience during his opening speech at the conference (Asharq Al-Awsat). 
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Saudi Arabia Launches Global Labor Market Academy in Partnership with the World Bank

Al-Rajhi addressing the audience during his opening speech at the conference (Asharq Al-Awsat). 
Al-Rajhi addressing the audience during his opening speech at the conference (Asharq Al-Awsat). 

Saudi Arabia has launched the Global Labor Market Academy in partnership with the World Bank, reinforcing its commitment to global transformation and addressing labor market gaps.

The announcement was made by Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi during the second edition of the International Labor Market Conference, held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh.

Under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the conference brought together 40 labor ministers from countries including the G20, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, alongside ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo and over 5,000 participants and 200 speakers from more than 100 countries.

Al-Rajhi highlighted the global unemployment rate, which reached 11.3% in the third quarter of 2024, calling it a cause for concern, especially as it surged to 24% in some member countries. He emphasized the need for proactive measures to address rapid technological advancements, demographic shifts, and emerging challenges such as climate adaptation.

In Saudi Arabia, the private sector workforce has exceeded 12 million employees, with the number of Saudi nationals employed rising from 1.7 million in 2020 to over 2.4 million in 2023, adding 724,000 new jobs for Saudis.

Since its establishment last year, the International Labor Market Conference has become a leading platform for shaping the future of global labor markets. Al-Rajhi noted that 67 million young people worldwide are unemployed, and 20% of individuals aged 15–24 are neither working, studying, nor in training. Additionally, 40% of employers struggle to fill positions due to skill mismatches, with youth unemployment exceeding 30% in some regions.

Saudi Arabia has introduced several initiatives under Vision 2030 to empower its workforce, including training programs, legislative reforms, and a national youth development strategy. As a result, the country’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.7% by the end of 2024, down from 5.7% in 2020, while women’s labor force participation increased to 36%, surpassing Vision 2030 targets.

Al-Rajhi announced two major initiatives: the launch of the Global Labor Market Academy, headquartered in Riyadh, which will serve as a hub for training and knowledge exchange, and the Future Outlook Report, which will provide data-driven insights and innovative strategies to bridge skill gaps and promote lifelong learning.

ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo stressed the importance of creating better employment conditions for young people, particularly in fields like technology and artificial intelligence (AI). He urged policymakers to develop strategies that prioritize decent jobs and sustainable employment.

Houngbo emphasized that the conference discussions would focus on youth skill development in an era of rapid technological progress and ensuring equal opportunities for young people across all regions.

 

Safaa El-Tayeb El-Kogali, World Bank Director for the GCC, highlighted the significance of the Global Labor Market Academy, stating that it offers a unique opportunity for policymakers to enhance their skills and address shared labor market challenges. She noted that the academy and the Global Labor Market Observatory will play a critical role in fostering international cooperation and sharing best practices between countries with different economic conditions.

During the ministerial roundtable, attended by 40 labor ministers, Al-Rajhi announced a comprehensive vision to enhance labor market resilience and inclusivity.

The plan focuses on facilitating youth transitions from education to employment, preparing the workforce for AI-driven changes, and increasing investment in human capital development.

It also emphasizes enhancing labor market flexibility, including remote and gig work, supporting SME growth to boost job creation, and utilizing technology and skills-matching platforms. Additionally, it promotes the employment of marginalized groups, such as people with disabilities and long-term unemployed individuals, while establishing a comprehensive labor market data system to track employment trends and workforce dynamics.

The Global Labor Market Academy and its initiatives mark a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to modernize labor markets, address global employment challenges, and foster sustainable economic growth.

 

 

 

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IMF and Arab Monetary Fund Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
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IMF and Arab Monetary Fund Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference on Emerging Market Economies (EME) to enhance cooperation between the two institutions.

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki, SPA reported.

The agreement aims to strengthen coordination in economic and financial policy areas, including surveillance and lending activities, data and analytical exchange, capacity building, and the provision of technical assistance, in support of regional financial and economic stability.

Both sides affirmed that the MoU represents an important step toward deepening their strategic partnership and strengthening the regional financial safety net, serving member countries and enhancing their ability to address economic challenges.

Business

Saudi Chambers Federation Announces First Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
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Saudi Chambers Federation Announces First Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

The Federation of Saudi Chambers announced the formation of the first joint Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council for its inaugural term (1447–1451 AH) and the election of Salman bin Hassan Al-Oqayel as its chairman.

Al-Oqayel said the council’s formation marks a pivotal milestone in economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, reflecting a practical approach to enabling the business sectors in both countries to capitalize on promising investment opportunities and strengthen bilateral trade and investment partnerships, SPA reported.

He noted that trade between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reached approximately SAR9.5 billion by the end of November 2025, including SAR8 billion in Saudi exports and SAR1.5 billion in Kuwaiti imports.

Business

Leading Harvard Trade Economist Says Saudi Arabia Holds Key to Success in Fragmented Global Economy

Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
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Leading Harvard Trade Economist Says Saudi Arabia Holds Key to Success in Fragmented Global Economy

Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).

Harvard University economics professor Pol Antràs said Saudi Arabia represents an exceptional model in the shifting global trade landscape, differing fundamentally from traditional emerging-market frameworks. He also stressed that globalization has not ended but has instead re-formed into what he describes as fragmented integration.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, Antràs said Saudi Arabia’s Vision-driven structural reforms position the Kingdom to benefit from the ongoing phase of fragmented integration, adding that the country’s strategic focus on logistics transformation and artificial intelligence constitutes a key engine for sustainable growth that extends beyond the volatility of global crises.

Antràs, the Robert G. Ory Professor of Economics at Harvard University, is one of the leading contemporary theorists of international trade. His research, which reshaped understanding of global value chains, focuses on how firms organize cross-border production and how regulation and technological change influence global trade flows and corporate decision-making.

He said conventional classifications of economies often obscure important structural differences, noting that the term emerging markets groups together countries with widely divergent industrial bases. Economies that depend heavily on manufacturing exports rely critically on market access and trade integration and therefore face stronger competitive pressures from Chinese exports that are increasingly shifting toward alternative markets.

Saudi Arabia, by contrast, exports extensively while facing limited direct competition from China in its primary export commodity, a situation that creates a strategic opportunity. The current environment allows the Kingdom to obtain imports from China at lower cost and access a broader range of goods that previously flowed largely toward the United States market.

Addressing how emerging economies should respond to dumping pressures and rising competition, Antràs said countries should minimize protectionist tendencies and instead position themselves as committed participants in the multilateral trading system, allowing foreign producers to access domestic markets while encouraging domestic firms to expand internationally.

He noted that although Chinese dumping presents concerns for countries with manufacturing sectors that compete directly with Chinese production, the risk is lower for Saudi Arabia because it does not maintain a large manufacturing base that overlaps directly with Chinese exports. Lower-cost imports could benefit Saudi consumers, while targeted policy tools such as credit programs, subsidies, and support for firms seeking to redesign and upgrade business models represent more effective responses than broad protectionist measures.

Globalization has not ended

Antràs said globalization continues but through more complex structures, with trade agreements increasingly negotiated through diverse arrangements rather than relying primarily on multilateral negotiations. Trade deals will continue to be concluded, but they are likely to become more complex, with uncertainty remaining a defining feature of the global trading environment.

Interest rates and artificial intelligence

According to Antràs, high global interest rates, combined with the additional risk premiums faced by emerging markets, are constraining investment, particularly in sectors that require export financing, capital expenditure, and continuous quality upgrading.

However, he noted that elevated interest rates partly reflect expectations of stronger long-term growth driven by artificial intelligence and broader technological transformation.

He also said if those growth expectations materialize, productivity gains could enable small and medium-sized enterprises to forecast demand more accurately and identify previously untapped markets, partially offsetting the negative effects of higher borrowing costs.

Employment concerns and the role of government

The Harvard professor warned that labor markets face a dual challenge stemming from intensified Chinese export competition and accelerating job automation driven by artificial intelligence, developments that could lead to significant disruptions, particularly among younger workers. He said governments must adopt proactive strategies requiring substantial fiscal resources to mitigate near-term labor-market shocks.

According to Antràs, productivity growth remains the central condition for success: if new technologies deliver the anticipated productivity gains, governments will gain the fiscal space needed to compensate affected groups and retrain the workforce, achieving a balance between addressing short-term disruptions and investing in long-term strategic gains.