Saudi job market shifts as tech and healthcare expand while construction contracts
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Agencies
Saudi Arabia's tech and healthcare sectors are maintaining strong hiring activity, while recruitment in the energy sector has slowed due to adjustments in government spending, according to consultancy Innovations Group.'In oil and gas and some large-scale construction projects, hiring was delayed due to adjustments in government spending,' said Anurag Verma, General Manager for Saudi operations at Innovations Group. The slowdown has been linked to 're-sizing' at some of the Kingdom's high-profile giga projects, reducing immediate demand for engineering and project-specific roles. However, industry observers expect large-scale recruitment to resume as construction ventures progress, though timelines remain uncertain.Retail, financial services, and education are also seeing steady recruitment, supported by ongoing business expansion. Employers are retaining top talent through pay increments, with salaries for new white-collar hires up 6%-8% compared to last year. Innovations estimates the Saudi white-collar staffing market could reach $1.16 billion by 2030, while blue-collar staffing could hit $1.68 billion.The demand is shifting toward a more skilled workforce, with healthcare, technology, and finance identified as high-growth sectors. By year-end, more multinational companies are expected to set up regional headquarters in the Kingdom, potentially driving further job creation.While tech hiring is yet to accelerate despite AI-related investments, HR specialists predict stronger recruitment momentum from 2026 as the sector moves closer to its growth potential.Gulf News
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