The Saudi transport sector is set to create 300,000 new job opportunities, according to the Chairman of the Public Transport Authority and Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics, Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih. He made this announcement while speaking at the Global Labor Market Conference in Riyadh.
Over the past four years, employment in this sector has increased by 100%. The participation of Saudi nationals has grown by 47%, while the participation of Saudi women has seen a remarkable rise of 84%.
Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries where women are allowed to drive trains. These achievements have been made possible with the support of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Dr. Al-Rumaih stated.
The Ministry of Transport and Logistics has developed strategic plans for maritime transport, land transport, aviation, and logistics services, enabling significant advancements in these fields. As a result, the aviation, railway, and maritime sectors are set to witness remarkable growth, he added.
The ministry recognizes the importance of skilled human capital and prioritizes training and expertise development. It has initiated the privatization of aviation, ports, railways, and logistics services, the Transport Authority revealed.
Companies undergoing privatization and those set to be privatized in the future are being assessed. The privatized entities include airports, ports, Saudi Post (SPL), and Saudi Arabian Railways (SAR). The objective is to enhance efficiency and generate new job opportunities.
The human resources sector must align with the labor market’s requirements. To achieve this, technical expertise is being developed in collaboration with local and international universities.
Dr. Al-Rumaih also mentioned the establishment of an Aviation Academy and a Logistics Academy, aimed at providing high-quality training without profit-driven motives, thereby ensuring workforce competency in these sectors.