Saudi Arabia to Create 340,000 Jobs for Nationals Over Next Three Years

Saudi Arabia plans to generate more than 340,000 new jobs for its citizens in the private sector over the next three years, as the government rolls out a new phase of its flagship labour market localisation initiative.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced the launch of the second phase of the Nitaqat AlMutawar Programme, a policy aimed at increasing Saudi participation in the private workforce and reducing reliance on expatriate labour.

The new phase builds on the strong results of the programme’s first stage, which has led to the employment of more than 550,000 Saudi nationals in the private sector since its introduction in 2022. This exceeded the original target of 340,000 jobs, underscoring the programme’s impact on job localisation and unemployment reduction.

Announcing the expansion, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al Rajhi said the updated programme is designed to strike a balance between accelerating Saudisation and maintaining the growth and competitiveness of the private sector.

“The programme is based on a comprehensive analysis of labour market conditions and the operational capacity of establishments across different sectors,” Al Rajhi said. “Our objective is to create more employment opportunities for Saudi nationals in a way that supports sustainable economic growth.”

He added that previous phases of Nitaqat have demonstrated the ability of Saudi citizens to perform and excel across a wide range of professions, providing a solid foundation for a new stage focused on empowering national talent and strengthening its long-term role in the labour market.

The second phase aims not only to increase employment numbers but also to improve job quality and overall market stability. Officials said it is expected to create a more sustainable balance between labour supply and demand, reinforce private-sector confidence and support broader national economic goals.

Abdullah Abuthnain, Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for the Labour Sector, said the updated framework was informed by extensive analytical studies covering businesses of all sizes and across all sectors.

“These studies allowed us to propose realistic and targeted Saudisation rates that reflect the nature of each activity and current market conditions,” he said, pointing to the growing pool of qualified Saudi workers who have already proven their ability to fill these roles.

According to Abuthnain, the revised approach is expected to enhance job stability, boost productivity and deliver long-term sustainability in the Saudi labour market.