Saudi private sector employment reaches 11.27m in April: official data

According to the Saudi National Labor Observatory report, there was a net increase in citizen employment for April, with 18,535 individuals newly joining the private sector workforce. Shutterstock
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Updated 12 May 2024
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Saudi private sector employment reaches 11.27m in April: official data

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s private sector has created more job opportunities, with the total number of employees reaching 11.27 million workers in April, official data showed. 

According to the Saudi National Labor Observatory report, there was a net increase in citizen employment for April, with 18,535 individuals newly joining the private sector workforce. 

Among these figures, there are over 2.35 million Saudi nationals, comprising more than 970,200 female workers and over 1.38 million male employees. 

On the other hand, NLO data showed that the total number of residents employed in the private sector exceeded 8.91 million individuals, comprising over 8.55 million male workers and only 364,900 female employees.

The report provides an overview of the Saudi private sector, highlighting a dynamic workforce of over 9.9 million male workers and more than 1.3 million female workers, representing diverse nationalities and playing integral roles in sector operations. 

In February, the total number of employees in the Saudi private sector reached 11.1 million, marking a 0.9 percent increase from the previous month, according to an NLO release. 

The national observatory report revealed that out of the total, 2.3 million were Saudi nationals, while 8.8 million were residents of the Kingdom belonging to different nationalities. 

That data reflected a positive trend in the employment industry as the private sector continues to expand its workforce, creating opportunities for Saudi citizens. 

Moreover, an analysis of the Saudi national workforce revealed that while 961,690 employees were females, 1.4 million were males. 

Meanwhile, among the 8.8 million non-Saudi workers, 348,892 were women, while 8.4 million were men. 

In February alone, the net growth in jobs for Saudi nationals as well as residents stood at 26,694, indicating a steady increase in employment within the private sector. 

Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification efforts have transformed the Kingdom into a hub for employment opportunities, propelled by bold giga-projects such as NEOM, which attract fresh talent into the construction sector.  

NLO, a governmental organization, is tasked with monitoring and analyzing labor market trends and dynamics in the country. It serves as a crucial resource for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders interested in understanding and addressing issues related to employment, workforce development, and labor market regulations. 


Saudi carrier flynas starts direct Jeddah–Moscow flights  

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Saudi carrier flynas starts direct Jeddah–Moscow flights  

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline flynas has launched direct flights between Jeddah and Moscow, expanding air links between the Kingdom and Russia as Saudi carriers add international capacity to support tourism growth. 

The service, which began on Dec. 23, will operate three times a week between King Abdulaziz International Airport and Vnukovo International Airport, flynas said in a statement. The airline becomes the first Saudi carrier to operate scheduled flights on the Jeddah–Moscow route. 

The move aligns with the airline’s growth and expansion plan and supports the Kingdom’s national objectives for the tourism and aviation sectors. 

Strengthening tourism and aviation is a key pillar of the Vision 2030 program, as Saudi Arabia continues efforts to diversify its economy and reduce reliance on oil revenues. 

Having already surpassed its initial target of attracting 100 million visitors ahead of schedule, Saudi Arabia’s National Tourism Strategy now aims to draw 150 million travelers by the end of the decade. 

“The inauguration ceremonies for the new route were held at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, where passengers on the inaugural flight were welcomed with commemorative gifts,” said flynas. 

The Jeddah–Moscow route is being operated in collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority and the Air Connectivity Program, the airline added.  

Launched in 2021, the Air Connectivity Program aims to develop new air routes to support the Kingdom’s tourism sector and aligns with the National Civil Aviation Strategy, which seeks to connect Saudi Arabia with 250 international destinations through national carriers. 

An official reception ceremony was held upon the aircraft’s arrival at Vnukovo International Airport, attended by representatives from the Saudi Embassy in Moscow, flynas, the Russian Tourism Authority, and Vnukovo Airport. 

In August, flynas launched its first regular direct flights between Riyadh and Moscow, operating four weekly services between the two capitals. 

“The airline remains committed to further expanding its destinations and routes to provide more reliable and convenient travel options for its guests, as part of its efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries,” said flynas.  

It added: “This expansion in the Russian aviation market aligns with flynas’ growth and expansion strategy launched under the title We Connect the World to the Kingdom.”