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Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
The battle for talent: Saudi Arabia's high-stakes bet on human capital
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia accelerates its transformation under Vision 2030, a critical question has emerged: Can the Kingdom build a homegrown tech workforce strong enough to power its digital ambitions? From artificial intelligence and smart mobility to fintech and clean energy, the Kingdom's rapidly expanding sectors are creating an unprecedented demand for highly skilled professionals. Yet despite billions in investments and major infrastructure rollouts, supply still lags behind demand. This challenge, however, is far from ignored. 'We are proud to take human capital development to the next level,' said Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi, during the launch of the National Skills Platform in April 2025. 'Technical expertise alone is not enough. Leadership, strategic thinking, and adaptability are equally important, and skilling and reskilling for the workforce is a national priority that all stakeholders should engage in.' The AI-powered platform connects Saudi job seekers to customized learning pathways, marking a shift toward demand-driven education and training. A national priority Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan, who also chairs the executive committee of the Human Capability Development Program, emphasized the broader purpose behind the Kingdom's reforms. 'Vision 2030 is not just a roadmap for national transformation — it is a model for how investment in people can drive sustainable progress,' Al-Benyan wrote in an April op-ed for Arab News titled 'Vision 2030: Elevating human capability in a changing world.' Citing the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, he noted that while 170 million new jobs will emerge globally by 2030, another 92 million will be displaced. He warned that 44 percent of core skills are set to change within five years, with digital and AI literacy becoming as fundamental as reading and math. 'Without these,' he wrote, 'individuals are unable to participate meaningfully in today's digital economy.' Scaling up training and inclusion This outlook is shaping some of Saudi Arabia's most ambitious workforce initiatives. Among them is the Waad National Training Campaign, launched in 2023 and supported by more than 70 organizations. The program surpassed 1 million training opportunities in its first phase and now targets 3 million by the end of 2025. Waad's Women's Employment Track has been particularly successful, with a 92 percent retention rate in tech roles—contributing to a record rise in female participation across the digital economy. Waad, Al-Rajhi noted, is an investment in 'the promise of human potential.' Meanwhile, the Future Skills Training Initiative, led by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology since 2020, has provided training to hundreds of thousands of Saudis in areas like cybersecurity, data science, and cloud computing. Supported by the Digital Skills Framework and private-sector partnerships, it has grown steadily. One such partnership — a 2023 collaboration with IBM — aimed to train 100,000 Saudis in AI and machine learning. Talent gaps persist Despite this progress, a 2025 report by Nucamp and the ministry highlighted a 20 percent shortfall between tech job vacancies and qualified local talent. Critical roles such as AI engineers, cloud architects, and data analysts remain in short supply. 'Demand for AI and cloud experts far exceeds supply,' said Ahmed Helmy, managing director for SAP in the Middle East, in an April interview with Asharq Al-Awsat. The result: fierce competition among employers. To meet short-term needs, Saudi Arabia is tapping into international expertise. The Premium Residency Program, launched in 2021, allows skilled foreign professionals to live and work in the Kingdom without a local sponsor. By late 2023, more than 2,600 had taken advantage of the scheme. In 2024, five new visa categories were introduced to attract investors, entrepreneurs, and tech specialists. These include provisions that exempt founders from Saudization quotas for their first three years—providing flexibility to scale teams while supporting local hiring in the long term. 'Such incentives allow skilled professionals to have a more stable life and make long-term investments in their careers in Saudi Arabia,' said Raymond Khoury, partner at Arthur D. Little, in May. Still, officials stress that international hiring is a stopgap — not a substitute. 'While attracting global talent is crucial, sustainable growth depends on balancing international expertise with local knowledge development,' said Mamdouh Al-Doubayan, MENA managing director at Globant. To that end, foreign hires are increasingly being integrated not just as employees, but as mentors and trainers. Startups adapt with remote models In the private sector, startups are turning to remote hiring to bypass local talent shortages. A 2024 study by Wamda found that many Saudi companies are building distributed teams, sourcing tech talent from Egypt, Jordan, and other regional markets. This strategy shortens hiring cycles and enables around-the-clock operations. The trend aligns with the Kingdom's Telework Initiative, which certifies employers to offer remote roles to Saudis—especially women and those living outside major urban centers. Competitive pressures from giga-projects The hiring challenge became especially acute in 2023. That year, PwC's Middle East Workforce Survey reported that 58 percent of Saudi firms struggled to fill key tech roles. A MAGNiTT report found that 65 percent of startup founders saw the shortage of senior tech talent as their top obstacle. A concurrent survey by Flat6Labs noted that many startups were delaying product launches due to staffing shortages, losing talent to mega-projects offering 30 to 50 percent higher salaries. 'Engineers and product managers often defect to deep-pocketed giga-projects that offer salaries 30–50 percent above startup pay,' wrote venture adviser Aditya Ghosh in a November 2023 LinkedIn Pulse column. Bridging the divide Education leaders are working to close this gap. Khalid Al-Sabti, chairman of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, said in a 2024 Arab News interview that Saudi Arabia is aligning its curriculum with global benchmarks. 'We must ensure our graduates meet international standards to compete globally,' he said. This includes revising curricula, emphasizing hands-on projects, and embedding industry into the classroom through partnership programs. The Talent Enrichment Program, for example, spans 160 countries and offers global certifications to Saudi learners. Encouragingly, Saudi Arabia's position in the IMD World Talent Ranking improved in 2023. Companies such as STC, Aramco Digital, and Elm are now hiring directly from local boot camps and training centers — evidence that education and industry are beginning to align. The road ahead Ultimately, the success of Saudi Arabia's tech talent strategy will be measured not just by enrollments or credentials, but by how effectively new graduates are absorbed into the workforce. If current reforms continue at scale, the Kingdom may not only satisfy its domestic tech demand — but emerge as a regional hub for digital talent. As Al-Benyan wrote: 'By investing in people, fostering global collaboration, and redefining the future of work, Saudi Arabia is demonstrating that human capability is the ultimate driver of progress.'
Times of Oman
30-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Bengaluru joins global tech elite with 1 million-strong workforce: CBRE report
New Delhi: In a resounding affirmation of India's ascent in the global digital economy, the city of Bengaluru has achieved a historic milestone. CBRE's Global Tech Talent Guidebook 2025 highlights that Bengaluru, often dubbed the "Silicon Valley of India," has officially joined the ranks of elite global technology powerhouses with a tech workforce exceeding 1 million. This landmark development places the city alongside global giants such as the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, and London, underscoring its rising influence in the global tech landscape. The recognition from CBRE, one of the world's leading commercial real estate and investment firms, is a major endorsement of Bengaluru's role as a transformative force in the tech world. With a robust ecosystem of startups, multinational firms, research institutions, and a highly skilled talent base, Bengaluru exemplifies the dynamism and potential of India's broader tech revolution. A testament to India's tech potential Bengaluru's achievement reflects the strength of India's tech ecosystem, which has evolved remarkably over the last two decades. The city has consistently been a magnet for domestic and international firms seeking talent, innovation, and scalability. With the number of tech professionals now crossing the one million mark, Bengaluru has not just grown in size but matured in sophistication. The CBRE report emphasises that this scale of growth is matched by the city's ability to adapt to evolving global technology trends. From artificial intelligence and machine learning to cloud computing, fintech, and enterprise solutions, Bengaluru is home to cutting-edge innovation across all major domains of the digital economy. A vibrant innovation ecosystem One of Bengaluru's greatest strengths lies in its vibrant and collaborative tech ecosystem. The city is home to a large number of startups—many of which have achieved unicorn status—as well as global tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Intel, all of which have established significant operations in the city. India's largest software services exporters, including Infosys and Wipro, also have their headquarters in Bengaluru. These firms continue to evolve and scale, providing high-value services to global clients and investing significantly in upskilling their workforce and investing in research and development. In addition to corporate giants, Bengaluru is known for its thriving startup culture. The city has produced some of India's most successful tech startups—like Flipkart, Swiggy, Razorpay, and Freshworks—that have grown to become global players. The support ecosystem—comprising venture capital firms, incubators, and accelerators—has played a crucial role in nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship. A young, skilled, and diverse talent pool One of the driving forces behind Bengaluru's rise to global prominence is its immense talent pool. The city is home to premier institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), and numerous engineering colleges that feed the tech industry with top-tier talent year after year. The workforce in Bengaluru is not only large but also diverse and future-ready. With a median age far younger than many Western tech hubs, Bengaluru benefits from a dynamic demographic profile that fuels innovation, risk-taking, and digital fluency. Increasing numbers of professionals are trained in next-gen technologies, enabling the city to stay at the forefront of rapid technological change. Moreover, the city has increasingly become attractive to talent from across India and the world, contributing to a cosmopolitan work culture that values collaboration, agility, and continuous learning. World-class infrastructure and connectivity Bengaluru's development as a tech hub has also been supported by strong infrastructure and policy initiatives. The presence of numerous tech parks such as Electronic City, Whitefield, and Manyata Tech Park, along with Special Economic Zones (SEZs), has provided world-class facilities to enterprises of all sizes. The city's improved public transportation network, including the expansion of the Namma Metro, growing international connectivity via the Kempegowda International Airport, and the development of suburban rail and tech corridors, further strengthens its appeal as a global business destination. Additionally, Karnataka's state government has played a supportive role in enhancing the ease of doing business, encouraging innovation, and facilitating foreign investments through proactive policies. Initiatives like the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) aim to double the state's digital economy and create millions of jobs, with Bengaluru as the cornerstone of that vision. A preferred global technology hub CBRE's Global Tech Talent Guidebook 2025 positions Bengaluru as a premier destination not just for Indian firms but also for global companies looking to expand or establish their technology operations. The city offers a unique combination of scale, skill, and cost-effectiveness that few other global destinations can match. Bengaluru's competitive cost of operations, coupled with a high return on innovation investment, makes it particularly attractive in an era where enterprises are increasingly focused on value creation and efficiency. The city's proficiency in both back-end services and front-line innovation makes it a one-stop destination for end-to-end technology development. Furthermore, Bengaluru's global mindset—shaped by decades of working with international clients—enables seamless collaboration across borders. The prevalence of English as the business language, a strong legal framework, and robust intellectual property protection further enhance its global appeal. A future-ready city As the world embraces the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Bengaluru is positioning itself as a future-ready city. Investments in emerging areas such as quantum computing, space tech, clean energy, and sustainable innovation are beginning to take root in the city's rapidly evolving tech ecosystem. Educational institutions, corporate R&D centres, and public-private partnerships are driving frontier research, while the city's young entrepreneurs are tackling global challenges through technology-driven solutions. Government initiatives to promote skilling in AI, data science, blockchain, and cybersecurity are preparing the workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. Importantly, the rise of remote and hybrid work models has not diminished Bengaluru's relevance. On the contrary, it has made the city an even more attractive destination for digital-first companies that value a tech-savvy, distributed workforce. Bengaluru's global tech moment Bengaluru's entry into the league of global tech powerhouses with over 1 million professionals is a moment of immense pride—not just for the city, but for India as a whole. It is a testament to decades of hard work, strategic investments, and a culture that embraces innovation and excellence. As highlighted in CBRE's Global Tech Talent Guidebook 2025, Bengaluru's rise is not a coincidence—it is the result of sustained momentum built on a foundation of talent, infrastructure, vision, and resilience. The city's tech workforce is powering not only Indian enterprises but also contributing to transformative solutions across the globe. With its eyes firmly set on the future, Bengaluru is not just keeping pace with the world—it is helping shape it.
