Global Labor Market Conference 2025: Minister Al-Rajhi Addresses Youth Unemployment And Skills Gaps

Under the auspices of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the second Global Labor Market Conference was inaugurated by Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi. The event took place at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, drawing participation from 40 labor ministers across various regions including the G20, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.

The conference featured over 5,000 participants and 200 speakers from more than 100 countries. Attendees included policymakers, specialists, and experts. International Labor Organization Director-General Gilbert Houngbo was also present. The gathering aimed to address significant transformations affecting global labor markets.

Al-Rajhi highlighted several initiatives under Saudi Vision 2030 designed to empower the workforce and transform labor markets. These initiatives include training programs, legislative changes, and the launch of both the National Youth Development Strategy and Cooperative Training Policy. Such measures aim to align workforce skills with market demands.

In his opening remarks, Al-Rajhi emphasized that since its inception a year ago, this conference has become a pivotal platform for shaping labor market futures. He attributed this to valuable contributions from global attendees. The minister underscored the importance of addressing rapid technological changes and demographic shifts.

The minister noted that approximately 67 million young individuals are unemployed globally. Additionally, nearly 20% of those aged 15 to 24 are neither employed nor in education or training programs. This highlights a significant challenge in aligning workforce skills with market needs.

Al-Rajhi unveiled two key initiatives aimed at turning challenges into opportunities. The first is establishing a Labor Market Academy in Riyadh. The second is releasing the Future Outlook Report, which offers practical recommendations based on thorough research to bridge skills gaps and encourage lifelong learning.

Transformative Steps for Future Preparedness

The conference addressed major transformations reshaping labor markets worldwide. These include rapid technological advancements and fundamental demographic changes. Emerging challenges such as climate change adaptation were also discussed as areas requiring proactive measures for future preparedness.

Al-Rajhi pointed out that around 40% of employers struggle to fill job vacancies due to skill mismatches in the workforce. In some regions, youth unemployment exceeds 30%. This underscores the need for innovative strategies to address these pressing issues effectively.

The event served as a platform for global experts and leaders to discuss these critical issues and explore solutions collaboratively. By bringing together diverse perspectives from around the world, it aimed to foster dialogue on shaping resilient labor markets for future generations.

With inputs from SPA