Saudi HR fund accelerates industrial workforce growth
Expanded training programs drive national employment as Kingdom strengthens industrial and mining sectors under Vision 2030
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — Saudi Arabia’s Human Resources Development Fund has enabled the hiring of more than 151,000 citizens in the industrial and mining sectors since 2020, supported by approximately USD 267 million in training-to-employment programs.
According to newly released figures, the fund, known as HRDF, reported signing 24 specialized training agreements over the period, targeting more than 9,400 Saudis for upskilling in high-value and strategic industries.
The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to expand the national labor force in sectors central to the Kingdom’s long-term economic transformation.
These programs align with the National Industrial Strategy under Vision 2030, which aims to increase manufacturing GDP to roughly USD 239 billion and create 2.1 million jobs by the end of the decade.
The strategy also focuses on boosting local production capabilities, enhancing high-technology exports, and expanding collaboration with private-sector partners.
HRDF stated that job retention among beneficiaries has reached 80 percent, indicating a strong integration of Saudi professionals into industrial fields.
The fund also supports 15 specialized professional certification programs and provides wage subsidies covering up to half of employee salaries, capped at about USD 800 per month.
More than 5,100 Saudis have additionally taken part in on-the-job technical training programs linked to industrial operations.
HRDF noted that these initiatives contribute directly to building a sustainable national talent pipeline capable of driving long-term industrial competitiveness and supporting workforce needs in emerging sectors.
The industrial sector recorded significant expansion in 2024, issuing 1,346 new factory licenses with investments exceeding USD 13.3 billion. Another 1,075 factories began operations with more than USD 12.8 billion in capital spending, adding 44,000 new jobs nationwide.
Saudi Arabia’s National Mining Strategy also prioritizes strengthening mining supply chains to support domestic industries, improve international market integration, and generate high-value employment opportunities through targeted skills development.
Labor market conditions continue to improve, with unemployment among Saudi nationals declining to a record low of 6.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025, according to the General Authority for Statistics.
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