In a move reflecting the accelerating pace of digital transformation in Saudi Arabia, the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) announced a significant achievement: its direct contribution to the employment of 65,000 Saudi citizens in the communications and information technology sector. This statistic covers the period from 2020 to the first half of 2025, underscoring the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to strengthening its position as a leading regional and global technology hub.
Vision 2030 and Digital Transformation
These figures cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of Saudi Vision 2030, which has established digital transformation as a cornerstone for diversifying income sources and reducing reliance on oil. This surge in Saudization figures is a direct result of a strategic initiative spearheaded by the Fund to empower national talent. During the same period, the Fund signed eight specialized training agreements linked to employment, with a total value exceeding 273 million riyals. These agreements aimed to enhance the technical skills of Saudi youth to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
A qualitative leap in employment sustainability
The generous support and well-thought-out plans have had a tangible impact on the stability of the technology labor market, recording a record high in the employment sustainability rate for those supported in the sector, reaching 81%. This percentage is a vital indicator of the market's maturity and the efficiency of national talent, as it has achieved high growth and a significant difference compared to the 49% recorded in 2020, which means that the jobs being created are real and stable jobs, not temporary ones.
Bridging the skills gap and building the future
The Fund's efforts focused intensively on bridging the skills gap in specialized and rare fields by supporting the acquisition of 76 professional certifications in specific areas. This approach enabled the national workforce to compete effectively in the rapidly evolving technology job market. Furthermore, approximately 3,877 citizens benefited from the Fund's on-the-job training programs, which were specifically designed to hone practical skills and enhance readiness for future jobs in vital fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity—areas experiencing increasing global demand.
Economic and strategic impact
The significance of these achievements extends beyond their functional role, contributing to the overarching strategic objectives of the communications and information technology sector, which aims to increase sector growth by 50%, with a strong focus on localizing technology and increasing women's participation. These efforts have culminated in substantial economic impacts, with the communications sector contributing approximately 464 billion riyals to the Saudi economy, highlighting the direct financial impact of investing in national talent and digital infrastructure.
This figure represents a remarkable growth of between 10% and 15% of GDP over the past few years, driven by the Kingdom's massive investments aimed at enhancing its global ranking in digital economy indicators. The Fund remains committed to empowering national talent, emphasizing that investment in human capital is the cornerstone of ensuring an innovative future, an effective digital government, and a vibrant society capable of adapting to the changing landscape of the technological age.
