"Hadaf": To employ 562,000 Saudis and provide 8 billion in support by 2025
The Saudi labor market witnessed an unprecedented leap in 2025, with the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) revealing record-breaking figures that reflect the success of national plans to Saudize jobs. The Fund announced its direct contribution to employing more than 562,000 Saudi citizens in various private sector establishments, achieving remarkable growth of 29% compared to the previous year, 2024.
Keeping pace with the goals of Vision 2030
These exceptional results are a practical manifestation of the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which prioritizes human capital development and reducing unemployment rates. The Fund's role is no longer limited to financial support; it has transformed into a strategic driver for enhancing labor market efficiency. The statement issued today (Wednesday) indicated that these figures culminate in the Fund's strategy aimed at empowering national talent and making Saudi citizens the first choice for employers.
8 billion riyals to support empowerment and training
In terms of figures reflecting the scale of government investment in its citizens, the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) clarified that the total amount spent on training, empowerment, and career guidance support programs during 2025 exceeded SAR 8.296 billion. This substantial expenditure benefited a wide range of individuals, with more than two million citizens participating in these programs. This directly contributed to bridging the skills gap and aligning the capabilities of job seekers with the actual needs of promising and emerging sectors in the market.
Small and medium enterprises: The engine of employment
The year 2025 witnessed a significant expansion in the network of partnerships with the private sector, with the number of establishments benefiting from the Fund's services rising to over 226,000 across all regions of the Kingdom, representing a growth rate of 27%. Notably, small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMEs) accounted for the vast majority, estimated at 94%, of the total beneficiary establishments. This figure reflects the dynamism of this sector and its pivotal role in the GDP, and underscores the Fund's success in supporting entrepreneurs and startups to invest in national talent.
Strategic partnerships and sustainable growth
To enhance the quality of employment, 45 specialized training agreements linked to employment in various vital sectors were signed. In this context, Turki Al-Jawini, Director General of the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), affirmed that this continued growth reflects the success of the Fund's strategic transformation towards maximizing its economic and social impact. Al-Jawini noted that the Fund has become a strategic pillar in aligning training outcomes with the labor market, emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships to connect talent with promising opportunities, thus contributing to building a diversified and sustainable knowledge-based economy.
Al-Jawini concluded his statement by emphasizing that the Fund continues to develop its programs to ensure the sustainability of employment and raise the productivity of Saudi employees, based on an advanced digital infrastructure that ensures easy access to services and supports the competitiveness of citizens locally and globally.
