Saudi funding for training exceeds job seeker payouts for first time since 2011

Officials said the success of the Hafiz scheme had helped to reduce the number of beneficiaries of the program. (Shutterstock)

JEDDAH: Saudi funding for employment and training programs in November exceeded job seekers’ payment support for the first time since 2011.
Last month, a total of SR249 million ($66 million) was spent on employment and training compared to SR215 million through the Hafiz program.

FASTFACT

$66m

Last month, a total of SR249 million ($66 million) was spent on employment and training compared to SR215 million through the Hafiz program.

According to figures released on Wednesday by the Saudi Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf), more than SR488 million was deposited by the fund into the bank accounts of 319,000 beneficiaries and SR473 million was pumped into the Hafiz program during November of last year.
Officials said the success of the Hafiz scheme had helped to reduce the number of beneficiaries of the program. At the start of the year, Hadaf implemented a strategic partnership with the Kingdom’s private sector while also developing and improving support initiatives and introducing quality programs to meet the needs of the labor market.