Recruitment giant Hays has said it expects to see major job opportunities in Saudi Arabia in the e-commerce and entertainment industries over the coming months.
The company's Saudi Arabia division said in a statement that overall, the business landscape in Saudi Arabia is at a "significant turning point" with "huge and unprecedented opportunities" ahead.
It added that it expects to see more organisations to be drawn to the Gulf kingdom as it opens up for more global investment, setting up satellite offices rather than servicing from neighbouring locations such as the UAE.
Hays said e-commerce will continue as one of the busiest industries for available jobs in the coming months, particularly with regards to online retail.
Mega projects such as Neom City are also creating a growing number of opportunities within the construction and property sectors while mounting job openings are forecast in a number of related industries, most notably the entertainment, tourism and renewable energy sectors, Hays added.
The entertainments industry represents significant opportunity in the kingdom with positive implications for hiring across a number of different job categories, the recruitment firm said.
Saudi Arabia’s on-going efforts to transform its economy and diversify away from its dependence on energy is driving the creation of a vibrant new entertainment sector.
The launch of the General Entertainment Authority in 2016 has already had a transformative impact, hosting more than 2,000 events in 2017. These have included jazz festivals, operas, Saudi Fashion Week and even monster truck rallies while cinemas will open to the public for the first time in decades in May.
Hays said: "From our own first-hand experiences in the kingdom, we have certainly noticed an increase in activity within the local hiring market with added dynamism compared to previous years.
"The most noticeable area of uplift is with the hiring of Saudi nationals across all industry sectors and the added opportunities for females in the employment market. However, we have also seen these to be a challenge for employers, many of whom are struggling to find the local talent they require to fulfil roles and who have therefore approached us for support."
Saudi Vision 2030 aims to increase female participation in the workforce from 22 percent to 30 percent.
