Saudi Arabia is hiring at a pace not seen in over a decade. Spurred by sweeping reforms and explosive growth outside the oil sector, the Kingdom is reshaping its economy, and creating a surge of opportunity for businesses and job seekers alike.
If you’re considering expansion into Saudi Arabia, there’s a strategic opening right now. With a diversifying economy, growing employer confidence, and a labor market on the move, the timing couldn’t be better.
The latest Riyad Bank PMI data shows the employment index jumping to 57.4 in May 2025, the highest level since tracking began. That figure signals a wave of job creation sweeping through Saudi Arabia's non-oil private sector. Construction and services are leading the charge, with a sharp uptick in new orders and business activity fueling the trend.
For companies looking to expand or enter the Saudi market it’s a sign of deeper change. As the Kingdom reshapes its economy, we’re seeing is a structural transformation of the labor market, one that reflects long-term confidence and opens the door for strategic, future-focused hiring.
Much of this momentum ties back to Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s sweeping plan to diversify its economy beyond oil. Backed by massive public investment, the country is betting big on sectors like tourism, tech, healthcare, and entertainment.
Here’s what’s fueling the job creation:
For business leaders evaluating Saudi Arabia as a potential growth market, current recruitment figures reveal both workforce trends, and reflect economic direction. According to the most recent Hays Saudi Arabia Salary Guide:
For companies seeking long-term footholds, these insights underscore the urgency of aligning with Saudi Arabia’s forward-leaning sectors before the window narrows.
Hiring data serves as a real-time indicator of economic momentum. In Saudi Arabia, the roles seeing the highest recruitment demand are closely aligned with the sectors experiencing the most growth. For decision-makers assessing market entry, this provides a valuable signal: these are the industries where capital is flowing, policy is supportive, and opportunity is expanding.
Hiring trends are the clearest signal of which sectors are truly scaling. For companies exploring Saudi Arabia, these roles are a strategic blueprint, where talent goes, opportunity follows.
Today’s Saudi workforce is evolving. Training programs, policy changes, and international partnerships have helped develop a talent pool that’s more competitive, more specialized, and more aligned with global business needs and the industries Saudi Arabia is actively shaping for the future.
With employer confidence peaking and hiring surging, this is a prime window. Companies that move quickly can secure top talent and establish a foothold in one of the world’s most dynamic growth markets.
Peninsula has supported over 1,500 businesses in navigating Saudi Arabia’s regulatory and hiring landscape. As recruitment ramps up, the value of strategic guidance has never been clearer.
Want to explore your options? Let’s talk. We’ll help you get set up, stay compliant, and tap into Saudi Arabia’s most promising talent pools.
Alistair Paine brings 15 years of dedicated experience in Saudi market entry, guiding Fortune 500 companies and innovative scale-ups through successful establishment in the Kingdom. His expertise in Saudi company formation, licensing and market entry strategy, positions him as a leading authority and consultant in international business expansion to Saudi Arabia.
Schedule a free consultation with Alistair and the Peninsula team to understand which market entry strategy is best suited to your business setup in Saudi Arabia.
Email: Alistair@peninsulacs.com
