Saudi Women at Work: A New Chapter, But Not the Final One

I recently heard an interview on Dubai Radio 103 discussing why more women are pursuing entrepreneurship, with flexibility and financial independence cited as key motivations. This made me wonder: what are the primary goals of Saudi women entering the workforce? Are they seeking career advancement and leadership roles, or is their participation driven more by economic necessity and shifting social norms?

In a recent Financial Times article, The Saudi Factories Powered by Women (October 2024), the authors highlight the remarkable rise in female labor force participation in Saudi Arabia. The numbers are striking - The numbers are striking; going from 16.4 per cent in 2015 to 35.8 per cent in 2024 is signficantly ahead of the government target of a further 15 per cent rise - or 31 per cent by 2030.

Looking at Saudi women's participation in the labor market, the opportunities are endless. Women are moving into manufacturing and technical fields, taking on roles once exclusively held by men. The article details how factories like Johnson Controls Arabia now employ women in assembly and electrical work, reflecting broader economic shifts, industrial diversification, and labor market restructuring. These figures and facts are well known, and news about women in the Saudi labor market has been consistently optimistic.

However, 96 per cent of top government positions remain male-dominated. Personally, I found that surprising, given the extensive media coverage of women’s achievements - I had assumed women were present in leadership roles everywhere. So ongoing debates over financial independence, gender roles, and career mobility suggest that while progress is evident, it remains uneven.

The FT article contextualizes this shift as being part of Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation, driven by Vision 2030 and the push to diversify beyond oil. While policy reforms have opened doors and provided opportunities, inclusion does not automatically translate into leadership. The current trend suggests that women are integrating into the workforce at scale but are not yet moving into decision-making roles as much as they could be.

That is not to say that none have of course; there are female diplomats, vice ministers, and heads of governmental and non-governmental institutions.

This raises a crucial question: Are these shifts a sign of structural change, or are women simply filling labor shortages without gaining influence?

From my perspective, the bigger challenge is not workforce participation but sustainable career mobility. While visibility in manufacturing and technical roles is progress, there is still an economic glass ceiling. The private sector remains largely male-led, and cultural perceptions of leadership have not fully caught up with the pace of workforce integration. Perhaps this is still in development?

The 96 per cent statistic on male-held government positions is telling; if women are to be true economic contributors, they need a voice in decision-making, not just in assembly lines. The first step of getting them into the workforce has been achieved, but what comes next?

Beyond the workplace, financial independence is reshaping household dynamics in Saudi Arabia, a change that is visible everywhere. Traditionally, Saudi men have been the primary breadwinners, but as more women achieve financial autonomy, expectations are shifting. In the past, women may have had private income from inheritance or other means, but now some see work as a step toward greater economic self-reliance.

Of course, others raise concerns about its implications for family structures, marriage stability, and shifting societal roles. But as one factory supervisor put it: "It is about both financial independence and self-fulfillment." While I believe this shift is largely positive, it does raise questions about how Saudi families and institutions will adapt to these changes in the long run.

Saudi Arabia has seen rapid transformation before, but this one is particularly significant because it intersects both economic restructuring and social development.

From my perspective, the true test will not be whether women enter the workforce but whether they reshape it, when they reshape it and how they reshape it. Will the private sector and government recognize female talent beyond quotas and labor participation rates? Or will barriers to leadership and policy-making persist?

The next decade will be telling.

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