G20_Paris_2011_CB_Saudi Arabia E.indd

Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers adopted the Saudi Employment Strategy in July 2009, at a time that coincided with the slowdown in the country’s economy induced by the global fi nancial and economic crisis. Although the Strategy had been in preparation by the Ministry of Labour well before the crisis started, its integrated methodology, objectives and policies are seen as a move towards addressing labour market issues effi ciently, representing “an important support to the national economy which has proved its success in the face of the global fi nancial crisis”.1 The Strategy also complements continued efforts to diversify the Saudi economy through its focus on improving the employability and productivity of Saudi nationals in preparation for employment in emerging sectors of the economy.