Ministers and experts gathered at Riyadh’s Global Labor Market Conference to examine how targeted policies and strategic investment can generate jobs and strengthen labor markets worldwide.

Speaking during a ministerial panel titled High-Impact Sectors as Drivers of Job Creation, H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, said tourism ranks among the world’s largest employment-generating sectors. Addressing the opening session of the third Global Labor Market Conference in Riyadh on Monday, he noted that the sector contributes around 10% of global GDP and supports approximately 370 million jobs globally. He also highlighted tourism’s inclusivity, noting that women accounted for about 45% of the workforce and that young people accounted for nearly 80%.

“Tourism provides opportunities for all, particularly young people and women,” Al-Khateeb said. “Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has enabled the development of new sectors, including education-linked tourism and cultural tourism, while preparing young Saudis for careers in these fields.”

Al-Khateeb outlined the kingdom’s employment ambitions, stating that Saudi Arabia aims to create between 400,000 and 600,000 new jobs in the hospitality industry. He emphasized the importance of equipping young Saudis with the skills needed not only to enter the sector but also to progress within it, noting that substantial investment is being directed toward training and workforce development.

The minister also underscored the role of effective public policy and strong collaboration between the public and private sectors in building a future-ready workforce. “By aligning education and training programs with labor market needs, we can ensure that Saudi youth are prepared for the opportunities of tomorrow,” he said.

Al-Khateeb’s remarks positioned tourism as both an economic driver and a pathway to inclusive growth. His comments formed part of a broader ministerial dialogue examining how high-impact sectors, including industry, infrastructure, and manufacturing, can support job creation and workforce readiness amid global labor market shifts.

The conference brought together ministers, policymakers, and international experts to discuss institutional reform, skills frameworks, and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen labor markets worldwide. Within that context, Al-Khateeb’s focus on tourism and youth employment highlighted how the kingdom is leveraging its expanding cultural and hospitality sectors as engines of economic opportunity under Vision 2030.