The inclusion of women in the labour market: Saudi Arabia’s leap from 21.2 % to 35.5 % and beyond, Dr Loujayn Alhokail
Dr Loujayn Alhokail
College of Law and Political Sciences
King Saud University
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia KSA
ORCID: 0009-0003-8864-4205
Paper Type: Research
Received: 01 April 2024 / Revised: 28 June 2024 / Accepted: 30 June 2024 / Published: 8 March 2025
DOI: 10.47556/J.WJWSD.1.1.2025.3
Purpose: This paper examines the increase in the participation of Saudi women in the labour market. This has grown from 21.2 % in 2017 to 35.5 % in 2023, reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to Vision 2030 and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper outlines the evolution of legal consciousness prior to Vision 2030 and the cultural shifts essential for supporting legal modifications. It delves into the specifics of Vision 2030 and the substantial legal reforms that followed its launch. The paper then reviews the deployment of support enablers that helped translate legal reforms into practice.
Findings: The findings suggest that awareness-raising efforts, coupled with legal reforms and initiatives designed to address challenges faced by women, have facilitated greater labour market inclusion.
Originality/Value of Paper: This study contributes to the understanding of how targeted legal and social interventions can effectively promote gender parity in the labour market, offering valuable insights for policy-makers.
Research Limitations: This paper primarily focuses on legal reforms and support enablers that have facilitated an increase in women’s participation in the Saudi labour market. As such, it does not extensively explore other potential factors that might influence labour market dynamics, such as economic fluctuations or regional differences within the Kingdom. Although the cultural context and societal attitudes towards women’s employment were addressed, they were not deeply investigated; this might be a crucial element in understanding the full scope of the labour market changes. In addition, the analysis relies on available data up to 2023, and future developments may provide further insights that were not captured in this paper.
Practical Implications: The findings of this study provide valuable insights for policy-makers and stakeholders in Saudi Arabia and other nations aiming to enhance women’s participation in the workforce. The documented legal reforms and support mechanisms can serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives in different cultural and legal contexts. Specifically, the emphasis on removing legal barriers, coupled with practical support enablers such as training programmes, childcare subsidies, and continuous monitoring and evaluation, highlights effective strategies for fostering gender parity. Policy-makers can leverage these insights to design and implement targeted interventions that promote gender equality, contributing to overall economic growth and social development.
Keywords: Labour Laws; Saudi Arabia; Legal Reform; Labour Market Inclusion; Vision 2030; Cultural Shifts.
Citation: Alhokail, L. (2025): The Inclusion of Women in the Labour Market: Saudi Arabia’s Leap from 21.2% to 35.5% and Beyond. World Journal of Women and Sustainable Development (WJWSD), Vol. 1, No. 1, pp.15-27.
