Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has launched the second phase of the Nitaqat Al-Mutawar Programme, aiming to create more than 340,000 new private-sector jobs for Saudi nationals over the next three years, as the Kingdom continues to accelerate workforce localisation and labour market participation.
The announcement follows the strong performance of the programme’s first phase, which resulted in the employment of more than 550,000 Saudi citizens in the private sector since its launch in 2022. This exceeded the original target of 340,000 jobs and contributed to reducing unemployment, strengthening Saudisation outcomes and increasing national workforce participation across key industries.
According to the ministry, the second phase is designed to build on these gains by expanding quality employment opportunities for citizens while maintaining a sustainable balance between labour supply and demand. The programme aims to support long-term economic growth by reinforcing private-sector confidence and ensuring that workforce localisation aligns with business needs.
Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi stated that the new phase was developed following a comprehensive analysis of labour market dynamics and the operational capabilities of establishments across various sectors. He noted that the programme seeks to balance localisation requirements with private-sector growth, enabling companies to expand while creating more jobs for Saudi nationals.
Al-Rajhi added that previous phases of Nitaqat have demonstrated the ability of Saudi citizens to perform effectively across a wide range of professions, reinforcing the case for deeper national workforce integration. He said the second phase reflects the ministry’s continued commitment to empowering local talent and building a more stable, competitive and sustainable labour market.
Deputy Minister for the Labour Sector Abdullah Abuthnain said the ministry conducted detailed analytical studies covering all sectors and business sizes before setting updated Saudisation targets. These targets were described as realistic and targeted, taking into account market conditions, job nature and the availability of qualified Saudi talent.
Abuthnain said the updated framework is expected to improve job stability, raise productivity and support long-term sustainability in the Saudi labour market, while ensuring that workforce localisation continues to deliver measurable outcomes for both workers and employers.