Saudi Skills Week Aims to Boost Youth Talent

Saudi Arabia has launched Skills Week, a national initiative under the Human Capability Development Program designed to sharpen the talents of young Saudis in line with the needs of the labour market. The programme brings career guidance, vocational and digital skills, entrepreneurship training, and employability workshops directly to students and jobseekers.

Activities are delivered through schools, universities, Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) institutes, and public innovation and skills hubs in major cities including Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Sessions typically run as multi-day themed weeks with daytime workshops and panel discussions, generally between 9:00 and 17:00 at participating campuses and venues, though exact timings vary by institution.

Participation for Saudi students and jobseekers is typically free of charge, funded by the government and aligned entities. Registration and scheduling are handled through dedicated event portals and institutional channels. Some activities signpost young people to government employment and skills platforms for labour market information and training links.

Why it matters

Skills Week is aligned with the labour market goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and is connected to broader efforts addressing an estimated SAR 62 billion annual skills gap in the Saudi economy. The initiative also incorporates partnerships with training providers and professional accreditation programmes, such as recognised technical certifications, whose course fees in the Kingdom typically range from about SAR 1,500 to SAR 18,000 depending on the certificate. These fees apply only to the courses themselves and not to entry into Skills Week events.

The latest focus places targeted outreach on high-school and university students, with curated sessions on future skills and sector-specific pathways. For young residents weighing their next steps in education and employment, Skills Week offers a practical, no-cost way to explore in-demand fields and connect with training routes across the Kingdom.

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