Saudi IT workforce estimated at 220,000 professionals

IT professionals in Saudi Arabia comprise around four per cent of the total workforce, surpassing any other job sector in the Kingdom. The total Saudi IT workforce is estimated at 220,000 professionals, and nearly 8,000 IT jobs are created in the local IT market every year, according to a new market survey conducted by Dubai-based Madar Research Group.

By A Staff Reporter

Published: Wed 3 Sep 2003, 12:13 PM

Last updated: Tue 28 Nov 2023, 7:51 AM

The findings of the survey further consolidate the position of Al-Falak, a leading regional IT and communications solution provider with over 22 years of experience in the industry. Al-Falak has a specialised Human Resources Division dedicated to recruiting, retaining and developing fully skilled professionals in information technology, engineering, communications, technical, operational, safety, other vocational and academic disciplines, administration and highly specialised areas.

"Saudi Arabia has laid the infrastructure for a strong IT-based industry and current developments show that the Kingdom is poised for a major leap in the field of IT. These developments combined with a renewed commitment by the authorities to provide greater employment opportunities to citizens are commendable. The market demand for IT professionals is exhaustive covering various categories and employers are looking for the right kind of expertise from a professional workforce. It is equally important that this workforce is adequately skilled and competent to handle the challenges within the IT industry," said Ahmed Ali Ashadawi, President and CEO of Al-Falak.

IT professionals in Saudi Arabia constitute the second largest IT community in the Arab world after Egypt, the survey reveals. The IT industry alone accounts for about 66 per cent of the market demand for IT professionals in the Kingdom. The hydrocarbon sector and services sector also have an equal share totalling to over 14 per cent of all IT jobs. With a government supported acceleration of IT penetration into Saudi society, besides IT and hydrocarbon, other industries and markets sectors are also likely to see an upsurge of demand for trained, highly skilled IT professionals. This will open up a host of new employment opportunities for qualified Saudi professionals.