Labor Migration Patterns in Saudi Arabia

This open-access title analyses how labour migration in Saudi Arabia is at a critical turning point.
On the one hand, Vision 2030 aims to reduce unemployment among Saudi nationals by implementing the ‘Saudization’ of the labor market. On the other, the economic diversification goals of Vision 2030 require skilled foreign expatriates in industries where there is a significant shortage of qualified Saudi workers. This book examines the consequences of three distinctive labor migration flows: international, internal, and inter-gulf. The 12 chapters offer in-depth discussions of Saudi Arabia's migration plans, the intended and unforeseen repercussions of these three labor movement types, and the opportunities and challenges they present to policymakers in Saudi Arabia and the countries of origin. This includes analysis of the complex relationships between economic, social, and environmental factors that affect labor migration regulations, labor market developments, and long-term sustainability. Based on fieldwork in the kingdom, this book offers rich empirical detail, policy relevance, and theoretical grounding, making it essential reading for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners engaged with migration, Gulf studies, and global development.
The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies.