The Human Resources Development Fund supported the employment of about 329,000 Saudi citizens in the private sector during the first half of 2026, marking a 23% increase compared with the same period of 2025.
The Fund disbursed roughly SAR 4.9 billion in direct financial support to individuals and establishments over the six-month period, delivered through training, empowerment, wage-support, and career-guidance programs. In total, some 1.69 million Saudi citizens benefited from the Fund's programs and services during the first half of the year.
On the business side, more than 171,000 establishments across the Kingdom made use of the Fund's services in the first half of 2026, a 25% year-on-year rise in the number of beneficiary establishments. Micro, small, and medium enterprises accounted for 95% of those businesses, underscoring the Fund's focus on smaller employers.
Why it matters
The wage-support and employment-support products typically see the Fund cover a proportion of a Saudi employee's monthly wage for a defined period, subject to eligibility criteria linked to the establishment, the job, and the employee. Support periods vary by program, ranging from several months up to a few years.
Programs are delivered through official digital channels integrated with national labor-market systems such as قوى, covering electronic registration, eligibility checks, and wage-support payments. For residents and job seekers, the figures point to continued momentum in creating sustainable private-sector jobs for Saudi nationals, with current rules, support rates, and application steps available through the Fund's official e-services.
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