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By Viren Sookhun, MD at Oxyon People Solutions
17 March 2025
Saudi Arabia is present process a fast transformation below Vision 2030, a strategic framework geared toward diversifying the economic growth and decreasing reliance on oil. This shift has pushed large-scale infrastructure, power, and industrial growth tasks, creating important demand for expert professionals. Ambitious infrastructure tasks, intensive travel and transport developments, as properly as a transfer into inexperienced hydrogen, are driving financial enlargement. However, the tempo and scale of those developments usually outstrip the supply of native experience, necessitating worldwide expertise to bridge the abilities hole. These megaprojects require a talented workforce that can’t be met solely by the native labour market. This presents a big alternative for Southern African artisans and engineers, whose experience and expertise make them superb candidates for these roles.
Meeting the demand for expert labour
Saudi Arabia is investing closely in futuristic cities and large-scale travel locations. Neom, for instance, is a high-tech metropolis incorporating clear power powered flying taxis, high-speed transport methods, and solar-powered buildings. Alongside this, important enlargement is underway on the King Salman International Airport and surrounding port infrastructure to help elevated commerce and journey. These huge tasks require a extremely expert workforce, and regardless of efforts to scale back its unemployment price, Saudi Arabia doesn’t have sufficient labour to fulfill this demand.
A key side of those developments is Saudi Arabia’s funding in renewable power, notably inexperienced hydrogen. Neom is house to considered one of the world’s largest inexperienced hydrogen tasks, aiming to supply sustainable gas for export and home use. This initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 technique to scale back its reliance on oil and develop into a pacesetter in clear power. The building and upkeep of those hydrogen vegetation require specialised engineering expertise, creating further alternatives for Southern African artisans with experience in power infrastructure.
And the superb workforce to fulfill this demand
Southern Africa, specifically, has lengthy been recognised for its expert workforce in engineering, building, and mining. Many Southern African artisans bear rigorous commerce testing and internationally aligned qualification processes, making certain they meet international requirements. Their hands-on expertise in infrastructure tasks, from large-scale industrial developments to power sector building, aligns properly with Saudi Arabia’s present wants.
Furthermore, considered one of the largest benefits South African employees carry is their proficiency in English, which considerably reduces communication boundaries in an Arabic-speaking surroundings. Compared to different worldwide labour sources, Southern Africans supply not solely technical expertise but additionally clearer communication, making collaboration extra environment friendly on complicated tasks.
Southern Africans even have a fame for adaptability on account of the nation’s numerous linguistic and cultural panorama. With twelve official languages and a multicultural workforce, they’re well-equipped to combine into Saudi Arabia’s working surroundings.
Steps towards addressing the unemployment disaster
South Africa’s unemployment price stays considered one of the very best globally. In the 4th quarter of 2024, the official unemployment price was 31.9 %, with youth unemployment sitting at round 44.6 % for these aged 16-34. These statistics spotlight the important significance of making employment alternatives for South Africans, particularly the youth. Engaging in worldwide tasks, corresponding to Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure developments, may present priceless avenues for employment and expertise growth.
In addition, as mining turns into extra automated, many expert employees discover themselves displaced. This expertise pool could be redirected into alternatives corresponding to Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure growth. By investing in focused upskilling initiatives, commerce testing, and certification alignment, younger South Africans could be ready for high-demand roles in Saudi Arabia. The prospect of engaged on world-class tasks gives not solely employment but additionally profession development and worldwide publicity for artisans and engineers.
An economical but aggressive workforce
South African artisans supply a steadiness between excessive ability ranges and cost-effectiveness. While they command aggressive salaries, they continue to be more cost-effective than many Western labour markets. This presents a powerful worth proposition for worldwide contractors managing Saudi Arabia’s large-scale tasks.
Furthermore, South Africa’s time zone is just one hour behind Saudi Arabia, making communication with household and help methods again house a lot simpler for expatriates. This issue enhances the attractiveness of Saudi Arabia alternatives for South African employees in comparison with roles in distant areas with appreciable time variations.
While South Africa is a major supply of expert labour, the broader Southern African area, together with Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Mozambique, additionally has a wealth of skilled artisans. Expanding recruitment efforts to those international locations can additional strengthen the provision of expert labour to Saudi Arabia, offering extra alternatives for Southern African employees whereas supporting Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure objectives.
Fostering long-term financial partnerships
Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure growth presents a singular probability for South African artisans and engineers to contribute to world-class tasks whereas addressing native unemployment challenges. With robust technical expertise, clear communication talents, and internationally recognised skills, Southern African employees are well-positioned to fulfill Saudi Arabia’s rising demand for expert labour. By specializing in upskilling and repurposing displaced employees from declining industries, Southern Africa can play a important position in supporting Saudi Arabia’s transformative developments whereas creating new profession pathways for its workforce.
As Saudi Arabia continues to modernise, strategic partnerships with worldwide workforce specialists will likely be important in facilitating these employment alternatives. Specialist recruiters might help match the fitting expertise to the fitting roles, streamlining the hiring course of and fostering long-term financial partnerships between Southern Africa and Saudi Arabia. A respected turnkey non permanent employment providers firm can facilitate a smooth hiring and placement course of. These collaborations not solely profit particular person employees but additionally strengthen commerce and diplomatic relations, paving the best way for continued cooperation and mutual financial development.
