Women in the Labor Market … A Fundamental Pillar of Economic Growth in Saudi Arabia

The participation of Saudi women in the labor market represents a key indicator reflecting the progress achieved by the Kingdom in various fields, particularly economic and social, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to empower women and enhance their role in national development.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development is working to implement effective strategic steps to support the female workforce by developing systems and regulations that align with the nature of women's work and enhancing suitable work environments. This reflects the Kingdom's efforts both locally and internationally to support women's rights and create favorable conditions for their active participation in various sectors.

As part of its efforts to increase women's participation in the labor market, the Ministry has implemented a package of initiatives aimed at enhancing their economic presence and qualifying them for the labor market. In addition, specialized training programs have been developed to enhance their skills and raise their efficiency, in line with current and future market needs. The Ministry has also worked to identify challenges that women may face in the workplace and seek to address them to ensure more supportive and sustainable environments, as well as raising awareness of the importance of women's role in national development and enhancing the positive view of their economic contribution.

Among the recent amendments made by the Ministry to the Labor Law is the extension of maternity leave for working women to 12 weeks with full pay, which gives them sufficient opportunity to adapt to the requirements of family life without affecting their job stability. This enhances their ability to balance their professional and personal lives. Flexible work patterns, including freelance work, flexible work, and remote work, have also been adopted, providing wider options that suit women's social circumstances and support their continued participation in the labor market while improving their quality of life. The Ministry also successfully concluded the Parallel Training Initiative, aimed at enhancing the skills and competencies of women in the labor market. As a result of this initiative, more than 122,000 job seekers benefited from specialized training programs designed to ensure their sustainability in their jobs in private sector establishments.

In the context of supporting working mothers, the Ministry has developed an integrated system of childcare services through specialized platforms, allowing mothers to easily access hospitality and childcare services, contributing to their job stability and increased productivity.

The Saudi labor market has witnessed remarkable growth in women's economic participation in recent years, with their participation rate rising from 21.2% in 2017 to 35.4% by the end of the third quarter of 2024. The economic participation rate of Saudi females over the age of 15 also increased to 36.2%, and the percentage of women in senior and middle management positions increased from 28.6% in 2017 to 43.8% in 2024.

This rapid growth underscores the increasing role of women in economic development, contributing to the achievement of Vision 2030 objectives, enhancing the competitiveness of the Saudi labor market globally, and raising the Kingdom's position among leading economies, thus enhancing the sustainability of development and supporting the participation of all groups in achieving integrated economic advancement.