Overseas employment opportunities declined by 18.5% in
October 2025 amid the implementation of a new Saudi skill certification
requirement for foreign workers. Despite these changes, Saudi Arabia remained
the top destination for Bangladeshi workers, recruiting over 40,000 workers
last month.
Employment Decline Linked to Skill Certification Policy
As Kamrul Hasan of The Business Standard detailed, the
enforcement of mandatory skill certification for overseas workers seeking
employment in Saudi Arabia has contributed to a notable reduction in overseas
employment figures for October 2025. Workers who lack the certification face
barriers securing jobs, leading to an overall employment dip.
Saudi Arabia Remains Primary Destination for Bangladeshi Workers
The Business Standard reported that Saudi Arabia recruited
40,612 Bangladeshi workers in October 2025, the highest share among overseas
destinations. This figure, while significant, reflects the broader employment
slowdown due to certification requirements for incoming migrant workers.
Saudi Labour Market Context and Employment Trends
According to data from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for
Statistics (GASTAT), the overall unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia stood at
3.2% in the second quarter of 2025, demonstrating resilience in the labour
market despite temporary challenges faced by expatriate workers. The
unemployment rate for Saudi nationals was higher at 6.8%, with labour force
participation at 67.1%, reflecting ongoing efforts to diversify the economy and
increase private sector jobs as part of Vision 2030.
The Saudization policy and increased female labour market
participation are key components driving the domestic labour market
transformation, balancing foreign worker inflows and employment quality
standards. Labour force participation among Saudi males is around 64%, while
among females it is 34.5%, showing gradual improvement.
Implications for Bangladeshi Migrant Workers
The decline in overseas employment highlights challenges
migrant workers face due to stricter regulatory frameworks in Saudi Arabia,
which now emphasize skill certification to improve workforce standards. These
measures aim to protect labour market quality but may temporarily disrupt
established migration flows.
Broader Economic and Migration Dynamics
Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification under Vision 2030
aims to reduce dependency on oil revenues by expanding the private sector and
increasing employment among Saudi nationals. This has involved Saudization
policies that restrict some expatriate labour market segments, affecting
overseas employment trends.
Despite these shifts, Saudi Arabia continues to be a significant labour destination for countries like Bangladesh, maintaining steady recruitment levels even as certification requirements contribute to an overall decline in employment growth. The focus on skilled labour is expected to improve worker conditions and economic integration over time.