The number of freelance workers in Saudi Arabia is growing quickly as the Kingdom’s economy continues to recover from the pandemic, according to fresh data from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
The number of local freelance workers in Saudi Arabia – measured by the number of people who secured a freelance employment document – has almost doubled in the first half of this year to 631, 518. This is an increase of 86 percent since the launch of a licensing program in 2019, according to figures from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and reported by Arab News.
“People registered in 2021 so far have reached 292,315, while 282,766 citizens were registered in 2020,” the ministry told Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper.
According to Arab News, Rana Zumai, a consultant who advises small and medium enterprises in the Kingdom, said that obtaining such a license in Saudi Arabia to practice one’s skills or use one’s craft “opened doors of opportunities” for individuals, making it possible for skilled Saudis to become self-employed and ensure a steady source of income.
The ministry also said most freelancers are aged between 20 and 30 years old, with most of them working in graphic design, marketing and advertising, and family businesses, such as designing jewelry and providing coffee, in addition to real estate services and handicrafts.
