2.5M Saudis employed in private sector: HRSD Minister

HRSD Minister Ahmad AlRajhi said the ministry has issued more than 50 Saudization decisions across 600 professions in the private sector

The number of Saudi men and women working in the private sector has now reached 2.5 million, said Minister of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) Ahmad AlRajhi.

Speaking at the 2026 Budget Forum, the minister noted that the achievement rate of targets in the Labor Market Strategy reached 94%, five years after its launch.

He added that the leadership requested the preparation of a new strategy to position Saudi Arabia as one of the world’s best labor markets.

AlRajhi said that the ministry has issued more than 50 Saudization decisions across 600 professions in the private sector.

As a result, the number of Saudis working in accounting increased from 47,000 four years ago to 119,000, while the number in the engineering profession rose from 52,000 to 218,000.