In a move reflecting the significant acceleration in achieving the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) announced record-breaking and unprecedented figures in supporting employment and training during 2025. The Fund's programs and quality initiatives contributed to employing more than 562,000 Saudi citizens in private sector establishments, registering exceptional growth of 29% compared to 2024. This achievement comes as a culmination of the Fund's ambitious strategy aimed at developing national human capital and raising the efficiency and sustainability of the Saudi labor market.
General context: “Hadaf” as an enabling arm of Vision 2030
The Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), established to support the localization of jobs in the private sector, is a cornerstone of the national development system. With the launch of Vision 2030, the Fund's role has expanded significantly, becoming a key driver in achieving the desired economic transformation. This is accomplished by aligning education and training outputs with the evolving needs of the labor market, encouraging the private sector to attract national talent, and reducing reliance on expatriate workers in specialized positions.
Achievement details: Comprehensive growth and strategic support for facilities
The success wasn't limited to the number of employees; it also included a significant expansion in the base of establishments benefiting from the Fund's services, reaching more than 226,000 establishments across the Kingdom, representing a 27% growth. Strategically significant, small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMEs) accounted for the largest share, at 94% of all supported establishments. This reflects direct support for one of the Vision's key objectives: increasing the contribution of SMEs to the GDP, recognizing their role as the primary driver of job creation and innovation in the economy.
Investing in the future: 8 billion riyals for training and empowerment
Believing that sustainable employment begins with quality training, the Fund revealed that the total amount spent on training, empowerment, and mentorship support programs during 2025 exceeded SAR 8.296 billion . More than two million citizens benefited from these programs, contributing to enhancing their professional readiness and equipping them with the skills required by promising sectors such as technology, tourism, and logistics. Additionally, 45 specialized training agreements linked to employment were signed, ensuring that training programs are connected to real and sustainable job opportunities.
Expected impact: Strengthening the national economy and the competitiveness of Saudi talent
These figures transcend mere statistics, representing a profound impact both domestically and internationally. Domestically, these efforts contribute to reducing unemployment rates, increasing women's participation in the labor market, raising average household incomes, and strengthening the private sector. Internationally, they enhance the Kingdom's attractiveness as an investment environment boasting a qualified and globally competitive national workforce, and offer a successful model for managing economic transformation and developing human resources.
In this context, the Director General of the Human Resources Development Fund, Mr. Turki bin Abdullah Al-Jawini, affirmed that these qualitative leaps embody the generous support of the wise leadership and reflect the success of the Fund’s strategic transformation in maximizing the economic and social impact, noting the continuation of efforts to develop innovative programs that ensure the sustainability of employment and consolidate the position of the Saudi citizen as a key axis in building a diversified and sustainable knowledge economy.
