Initiatives and programs of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in empowering Saudi women and youth

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has launched several programs and initiatives aimed at empowering women and youth. The empowerment of women has received significant attention, intending to increase their participation in the labor market. As a result, Saudi women have made significant strides towards empowerment, driven by the issuance of various decisions, regulations, and laws that enhance their status in society. Consequently, women have become active partners in national development across all sectors, i.e.,   economic, social, scientific, cultural, and beyond—at every level.

The empowerment of women in Saudi Arabia has been supported by numerous programs and initiatives aimed at: The empowerment of women and the enhancement of their leadership roles has been a key objective in Saudi Arabia’s initiatives. These efforts aim to support inclusivity and diversity in the labor market, raise awareness of policies affecting women in the workforce, and encourage women's career development. In addition, the country has worked to develop regulatory frameworks that facilitate women's participation in the labor market. Key initiatives include leadership training and mentorship programs, the promotion of remote work, and the encouragement of flexible work arrangements. Programs such as Qurrah, which provides childcare services for working women, and Wasl, which supports and facilitates women’s transportation, have been instrumental. Additionally, the Employment Support Program focuses on enhancing women's skills.

Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in empowering women and increasing their economic participation in the labor market. The efforts and reformative legislation of recent years, in line with Vision 2030, have positively impacted the country's objectives for women's empowerment. By the end of 2020, the economic participation rate of Saudi women aged 15 and above reached 33.5%. Meanwhile, the percentage of women participating in the labor market more than doubled, rising from 17% to 31.8%, thus surpassing the Vision 2030 target of 30%. 

In 2020, the percentage of women in middle and senior management positions reached 30% in both the public and private sectors. Indicators showed an increase in the percentage of Saudi women in the civil service, reaching 41.02% by the end of 2020.

In the field of youth empowerment, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has launched numerous programs and projects as part of the National Transformation Program. These initiatives aim to increase youth participation both socially and in the labor market. The Ministry is dedicated to overcoming all obstacles and utilizing available resources to serve this vital segment of society. This is achieved by fostering a positive social perspective of young people through various qualifications, training, and activity-based programs designed to support their development and integration into the workforce.

As part of the efforts by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in the workforce qualification initiative, the (Job Incentives for the Non-Profit Sector) program plays a key role in creating significant synergy between human resources goals and social development objectives. This program contributes to generating thousands of attractive, high-quality jobs that retain top talent while attracting more skilled professionals to the non-profit sector. These talents, in turn, empower the sector and enhance its work environment, making it more capable of generating high-quality, appealing job opportunities.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development offers several programs to empower youth in the labor market, including freelance work, flexible work and remote work. The Taqat Platform is an integrated online platform for both public and private labor markets, connecting job seekers with employers and facilitating the exchange of employment and training services. Other programs include the Masar Platform, and the Saned Program, which supports Saudi workers and their families during periods of unemployment due to circumstances beyond their control. This program helps bridge the transition between jobs by providing a minimum income to ensure a decent living for workers and their families, along with necessary training and assistance in finding new employment, in addition to Doroob Program, Tamheer Program and Hadaf Academy.