Job prospects in KSA remain bright for OFWs

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today said employment prospects for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) will remain vibrant as mega industrial and economic cities will be built across the Kingdom over the next 15 years.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque, citing a report from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA),  said the KSA's medium to long-term socio-economic development plans include the development of 12 mega industrial and economic cities across the Kingdom which are expected to employ millions of local and foreign workers until 2024.

 

Roque also cited a study by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce which estimated that 10 million local and expatriate workers will be needed by the major development projects in the KSA. 

He said the construction of the mega cities is expected to sustain the employment of hundreds of thousands of OFWs in the KSA, adding that the DOLE looks forward to continuous hiring of OFWs in the KSA this year and until 2024.

 

 He said that with the robust construction activities aimed at making the KSA one of the world's top investment destinations, it is projected that the Kingdom will remain the top OFW destination over the next several years.

The Labor and Employment Chief said OFWs in the construction sector will continue to be in demand in the KSA. 

 

The POEA data showed that the KSA will be in need of aluminum installers, architects, carpenters, concrete finishers, draftsmen, drillers, electric/mechanical assistants, electricians, engineers, erectors, fabricators, foremen, heavy equipment operators, watchmen, mason, pipefitters, plaster painters, plasterers, plumbers, riggers, safety officers, welders, and mechanics. Oil and gas workers will also be in demand in the Kingdom.

 

Meantime, the following four integrated economic cities have already been launched in the KSA at a cost of about US$16 billion: 1) King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, KSA with a potential to create one million jobs; 2) Jazan Economic City in Jazan, KSA which is projected to generate 500,00 new jobs; 3) Prince Abdullaziz Bin Moussaed Economic City in Hail, KSA  which expected to become the largest transportation and logistics hub and supply chain centers in the Middle East; and 4) Knowledge Economic City in Madinah, KSA.

 

Other economic cities already launched in the KSA are the Hail Industrial City and Al-Mal Economic City.  The Kingdom's development projects also include a US$5.3 billion (SR20 billion) light rail, buses, and sea transport system.

 

Jeddah, KSA's largest city and gateway of pilgrims to Makkah and Madinah, will also develop housing units and tourist sites that would include the establishment of hotels, malls, transport facilities, and recreational centers.   Multi-billion dollar projects providing for the construction of nine villages with retail and leisure amenities, mosques, and educational and healthcare facilities will also be pursued in the KSA's Eastern Province.