Saudi labor market growth 2025: 130,000 citizens to be employed in the private sector
A recent survey conducted by the Okaz newspaper revealed that the Saudi labor market achieved unprecedented and significant leaps by the end of 2025, with the private sector recording remarkable growth in Saudi citizen employment rates. According to the data, an average of 130,028 Saudi men and women joined the workforce in this vital sector, bringing the total number of Saudis employed in private sector establishments to a record high of 2,573,621, representing an annual growth rate of 5.32% compared to the previous year.
Saudi women: A strategic partner in development
Detailed indicators revealed that Saudi women were the driving force behind this economic transformation, spearheading growth with a 6.09% increase. In 2025, 61,696 new Saudi women entered the workforce, bringing the total number of Saudi women employed in the private sector to 1,074,355. These figures reflect the remarkable success of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which, since its inception, has focused on empowering women and increasing their contribution to the GDP, exceeding expectations and the targeted percentages outlined in the Vision's timelines.
Job sustainability for males and workforce growth
Regarding male employment, the market maintained a steady upward trend, with 68,332 new Saudis joining the private sector, representing a growth rate of 4.78%, bringing the total number of male employees to 1,499,266. This balanced growth underscores the Saudi private sector's ability to create sustainable and attractive job opportunities for both genders, supported by a stimulating legislative environment.
Economic context and the impact of the national vision
These figures cannot be viewed in isolation from the structural transformations the Saudi economy has undergone since the launch of Vision 2030. The Kingdom has worked to reduce its reliance on traditional government employment, shifting the focus towards the private sector as the primary driver of job creation. Programs implemented by the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), along with sectoral and regional localization initiatives, have helped bridge the gap between educational outputs and market needs, resulting in a reduction of unemployment rates to historic lows.
Macromarket indicators and regional standing
At the macro level, monitoring showed that the total workforce in the Kingdom (Saudis and expatriates) reached 13,325,282 workers, a substantial increase of 1.23 million employees and a growth rate of 10.21%. This significant expansion reinforces Saudi Arabia's position as a regional and international economic powerhouse and underscores the attractiveness of its business environment for foreign and domestic investments that generate jobs. This rapid growth sends reassuring messages to investors about the strength of the Saudi economy and its capacity to absorb talent, which positively impacts the quality of life and stimulates economic activity across various sectors.
