RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan 26, 2026 (GDM) — A global labour conference opened in Riyadh on Sunday, with international ministers highlighting sectors such as tourism, mining, and manufacturing as key drivers of future job creation.
Speaking at the Global Labor Market Conference, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said the kingdom aims to create up to 600,000 new jobs in the hospitality sector as part of its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan. He stressed the importance of equipping young people with the skills needed to succeed, noting that tourism supports around 370 million jobs worldwide.
For expatriate workers, ministerial discussions pointed to potential opportunities in emerging Saudi sectors, while also underscoring a strong emphasis on national workforce development. Ministers called for closer collaboration between governments and the private sector to ensure education and training systems are aligned with labour market needs.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Al-Khorayef, announced the launch of a comprehensive skills framework covering more than 500 occupations across the industrial and mining sectors, aimed at strengthening long-term economic competitiveness.
The conference, opened by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi, highlighted a global consensus on the need for policies that promote “decent, just, and sustainable jobs” and address informal labour markets — an issue with implications for migrant worker protections worldwide.
In his opening remarks, Al-Rajhi said labour markets globally are undergoing rapid transformation and noted that the conference would showcase progress made under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 labour reforms.
A ministerial meeting held on the sidelines focused on key challenges including technological disruption, skills development, the informal economy, and improving job quality. Ministers agreed that investment in human capital is central to economic growth and called for flexible policies and concrete actions through international partnerships.
The conference features more than 40 labour ministers and over 200 international speakers across more than 50 sessions.