Saudi HR Ministry launches 'Skills Week' to align young talent with labor market needs

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), Saudi Arabia, has launched a new initiative "Skills Week", on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, observed on July 15 every year.

Under this initiative, the Ministry will align its ongoing efforts with the ‘Skills First’ theme to develop the region's skills ecosystem, support human capital investments, and enhance the readiness of Saudi talent to meet the evolving demands of both local and global job markets, in line with the goals of Vision 2030.

During "Skills Week," the Ministry will spotlight key national initiatives aimed at boosting the efficiency, competitiveness, and productivity of the Saudi labour market. The focus is on empowering youth and sharpening their skills to help them succeed.

This will be achieved through a series of programs that identify skill needs, align training efforts, and respond to labor market demands—all in partnership with the private sector.

Commenting on the initiative, His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Zahrani, Deputy Minister for Skills and Training, said,“The launch of 'Skills Week' coincides with World Youth Skills Day, reflecting the Ministry’s commitment to preparing national talent for the rapid transformations in the labor market.”

Adding, “This week marks an important milestone in showcasing the Kingdom’s efforts to build a comprehensive national skills system, in collaboration with our partners across various sectors. Through these initiatives, we aim to support the transition to a skills-based labour market by activating the national skills strategy, developing a national skills framework, equipping national talent with technical and vocational skills, and ensuring alignment between education and training outcomes and the current and future needs of the labor market.”

He further emphasized that the Ministry will continue developing innovative initiatives in the field of skills to enhance the competitiveness of both the labor market and Saudi citizens, both locally and globally, contributing to the realisation of Vision 2030 and empowering national talent to lead the Kingdom’s ongoing economic and social transformation.

To identify the current and future skill demands of industries, the Ministry also conducted an online survey of over 3,000 organisations, analyzing 14 key sectors across 13 regions in the Kingdom.

Based on the findings, the following skills are in high demand in Saudi Arabia’s public and private sectors:

• Learning and adaptability skills
• Customer interaction and handling skills
• Leadership skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Cognitive skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Communication skills

The Ministry is building a comprehensive database of these emerging skill needs and is guiding industries and academic institutions to align educational and training policies accordingly, ensuring the future job readiness of Saudi talent.