Saudi Youth Employment Surges Under Vision 2030

Employment among young Saudis has risen sharply during the Vision 2030 period, with new figures pointing to major gains in graduate hiring and a steady fall in youth unemployment across the Kingdom.

Youth unemployment among Saudi nationals aged 15–24 now stands in the mid-teens percentage range, down from about 29% in 2016. Employment within the same age group has climbed to roughly one-third of young Saudis, while the employment-to-population rate for those aged 18–24 jumped from just 10% in 2015 to around 33% by 2025. Overall Saudi unemployment has fallen to about 7–7.7% by late 2025, prompting a new national target of 5% by 2030.

Graduate hiring improves

The share of higher-education graduates entering the workforce within six months of graduating rose from 13.3% in 2016 to 44.43% in 2024. Vocational and technical tracks performed even better, with a post-graduation employment rate reaching 47.81%, reflecting growing demand for sector-specific skills. The proportion of young Saudis not in education or employment dropped from about 40% in 2015 to roughly 25% in 2025.

These gains are attributed largely to the Human Capability Development Program under رؤية السعودية 2030, which focuses on smoothing the transition from education to employment and aligning skills with labour-market needs. Support channels include the National Labour Gateway (Taqat) for job matching, the Youth Empowerment e-recruitment system for degree holders seeking government roles, and expanded pathways through the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation.

For families across الرياض, جدة and beyond, the shift means more opportunities for young graduates and stronger participation in the private sector. With around 80% of planned labour-market initiatives implemented by the mid-2020s, officials expect continued progress toward the Kingdom's employment goals.

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