Al-Rajhi: Training and qualification opportunities in Wa’ad campaign jump to 4.5 million

HAIL — Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi said that the number of Saudis employed in the private sector jumped to 2.7 million. “There has also been an increase in the contribution of non-profit organizations to the GDP to 1.55 percent, with a value exceeding SR73 billion,” he said while citing this as one of the indicators reflecting significant transformations in the labor market, as well as in the sectors of non-profit, training, and volunteer work. Al-Rajhi made the remarks while attending a program of the Hail Chamber of Commerce during his visit to the Hail region. The minister stated that training and qualification opportunities have increased to 4.5 million under the Wa’ad campaign, of which two million have been completed so far. The Wa’ad national training campaign is a flagship initiative launched by the ministry to develop national human capital and align the Saudi workforce with Saudi Vision 2030. Meanwhile, more than 1.5 million people have benefited from training programs offered by the Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF), with support exceeding SR3.8 billion. The figures announced by the minister also highlighted the significant expansion of the non-profit sector. The number of employees in the sector increased from 19,200 in 2017 to 141,432 in 2024, while development spending rose from approximately SR1.6 billion to SR6.1 billion during the same period. He noted that beneficiary satisfaction with the services provided by non-profit organizations reached nearly 90 percent, while the number of non-profit organizations exceeded 8,000 by 2026, representing growth of more than 382 percent. Specialized organizations supporting development priorities accounted for approximately 97 percent of the total number of organizations. Regarding volunteer work, Al-Rajhi revealed that the number of volunteers in the Kingdom exceeded 1.7 million by 2025, while the number of participants in volunteer work serving pilgrims reached approximately 185,000, reflecting a broadening base of community participation. On the development financing front, the minister explained that the Social Development Bank has provided total support of SR170 billion since its establishment. He stressed that the growth in employment, training, and non-profit sector indicators forms part of the broader drive to strengthen social and economic development and enhance the participation of national talents in the labor market.