Last updated: April 17, 2025
Key Takeaway
Saudi Arabia’s job market is experiencing unprecedented growth with 79% of employers actively recruiting permanent staff. Meanwhile, 66% of professionals are considering job changes to improve their salary and benefits packages.
Saudi Employment Market Sees Significant Mobility
Saudi Arabia’s workplace landscape is becoming increasingly dynamic, with a substantial proportion of employees actively seeking new opportunities. According to the latest Hays jobs report, approximately 66% of professionals in the Kingdom are planning to change jobs, primarily motivated by improved salary and benefit packages.
This heightened mobility coincides with an exceptionally active hiring market across Saudi Arabia, creating favourable conditions for job seekers.
“The employment market across Saudi Arabia is booming,” notes Mark Paul, Senior Manager at Hays Middle East. “Reflective of this year’s trend, 79% of employers say they will be recruiting employees on a permanent basis.”
Salary Growth Driving Job Movement
The financial incentive for job transitions is compelling. The Hays report reveals that 51% of professionals in Saudi Arabia received salary increases in 2024, with an impressive 81% expressing optimism about potential salary improvements in 2025.
This positive salary trajectory is fuelling confidence among job seekers, who recognise the leverage they hold in the current market. With demand for skilled professionals outpacing supply in several sectors, candidates are well-positioned to negotiate enhanced compensation packages.
Saudisation Remains a Top Priority
Nationalisation initiatives continue to shape hiring strategies throughout the Kingdom. An overwhelming 91% of employers report currently employing Saudi nationals, while 87% plan to increase their headcount of Saudi nationals during 2025.
“Recruitment efforts related to nationalisation quotas continue to be a top priority for most businesses,” explains Paul. “Employers are seeking experienced individuals with both the relevant soft and technical skills to make an immediate impact.”
This focus on increasing Saudi representation in the private sector has created additional competitive pressure in the talent market, contributing to the upward momentum in compensation packages.
Growth Sectors Leading the Hiring Boom
The hiring surge spans virtually all non-oil sectors in Saudi Arabia, with several industries showing particularly strong recruitment activity:
Construction and Project Management
“In sectors such as construction and project management, demand is always running ahead of actual availability of individuals with experience and skills,” reports an official from a construction firm.
This skills gap is creating excellent opportunities for qualified professionals in these fields, with employers willing to offer premium compensation to secure top talent.
Aviation
With the launch of Riyadh Air and expansion programmes by existing carriers, the aviation industry presents abundant job prospects. The sector’s growth trajectory suggests sustained hiring activity for years to come.
Hospitality
The hotel industry is similarly experiencing rapid expansion. “Even if some of the projects are downsized or scrapped, there’s still plenty happening,” notes a hospitality consultant. “Unless something changes dramatically, a lot of the hiring will continue until well into the final year of this decade.”
Impressive Hiring Statistics
The scale of recruitment activity is reflected in the Hays report findings:
- 90% of organisations plan to recruit in some capacity
- 79% will hire employees on a permanent basis
- 23% will recruit on a contract, freelance or temporary basis
- Only 10% have no recruitment plans
These figures underscore the remarkable strength of the Saudi employment market, which continues to be driven by the Kingdom’s ambitious economic diversification and development agenda.
Economic Growth Fuelling Recruitment
Business leaders point to consistent economic expansion as the foundation for the hiring boom. Monthly Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data remains strong, with companies regularly citing the need for additional staff to meet growing demand.
This virtuous cycle of economic growth and employment creation appears set to continue throughout 2025, providing abundant opportunities for both employers and job seekers in the Saudi market.
For more insights on employment trends in Saudi Arabia and across the Gulf region, visit JobXDubai.
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