Skills Week drives Saudi push to upskill workforce aligning with Vision 2030

Al Arabiya

18-07-2025

Saudi Arabia has launched 'Skills Week' to spotlight sweeping national initiatives designed to transform the Kingdom's labor market and empower youth in alignment with Vision 2030.
Under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), the initiative runs from July 13-19 and is led by the newly established Skills and Training Deputyship, in collaboration with government bodies and private sector partners.
The ministry celebrated 'World Youth Skills Day' on July 15 with the launch of the nationwide campaign aimed at accelerating skills development across sectors and promoting a productivity-driven labor market.
This year's theme, 'skills first,' reflects the Kingdom's growing emphasis on aligning training and education with the demands of a modern workforce, the ministry said in a statement shared with Al Arabiya English.
The initiative aims to strengthen Saudi Arabia's skills ecosystem and ensure alignment with market needs through a variety of targeted programs, the statement added.
Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Alzahrani, Deputy Minister for Skills and Training, said: 'This effort supports all groups across our labor market. We are building a sustainable skills ecosystem integrated with education and training, preparing a young generation ready to drive Saudi Arabia's transformation and compete globally, in line with Vision 2030.'
Flagship programs
One of the flagship programs under this effort is the Waad National Training Initiative – a cornerstone of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 human capital development strategy.
Originally launched to bridge the gap between education and workforce demands, Waad achieved a 129 percent overachievement in training opportunities during its first phase, collaborating with 14 private sector entities, according to the ministry.
Now in its second phase, the initiative seeks to deliver three million training opportunities by 2028 through partnerships with over 65 public and private sector entities.
Another key project is the Sector Skills Councils Initiative, comprising 13 councils and more than 200 industry members.
The ministry has introduced the Sector Skills Framework Tool, which features over 8,500 technical skills, mapped across 12 critical sectors, and provides a strategic reference for tailoring training to industry-specific needs.
Saudi Arabia's labor market strategy
These efforts fall under the umbrella of Saudi Arabia's Labor Market Strategy, approved by the Council of Ministers in 2020.
The strategy aims to enhance labor participation, improve productivity, and reduce unemployment rates – all of which have already contributed to a 4.9 percent increase in labor productivity in 2022, the highest among G20 economies.
Further advancing this vision, the ministry launched the Skill Accelerator Program, which targets the upskilling and reskilling of over 300,000 Saudis by 2027.
The program spans the top seven sectors driving GDP and employment, offering over 3,000 training programs nationwide in partnership with local and international training providers.
Saudi Arabia also continues to enhance labor market quality through the 'Professional Verification Program', ensuring that skilled workers from more than 169 countries and 1,000 professions meet strict competency standards.
Complementing labor market reforms further, the Kingdom is reshaping its education system through the 'Human Capability Development Program', encompassing early childhood through higher education and lifelong learning, to foster a resilient and future-ready workforce.
To support the Kingdom's labor market agenda, the ministry has also introduced several institutional frameworks:
13 'Sector Skills Councils' covering sectors responsible for 85 percent of GDP and 80 percent of the workforce.
A 'Job Creation Index Unit' to evaluate employment initiatives.
A 'Foresight Unit' to anticipate emerging talent needs.
A 'Skills System Framework' to govern implementation and ensure sustainability.