Saudi Arabia to localize 4 healthcare jobs

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, decided to raise the Saudization rates for four healthcare jobs in the private sector. These include radiology (65%), medical laboratories (70%), clinical nutrition (80%), and physical therapy (80%).

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Health Ministry clarified that the implementation would occur in two phases.

The first phase begins six months after the issuance of the decisions, starting on April 17, 2025. At this stage, the regulations will apply to all establishments in major cities—Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Dammam, and Khobar—and to large and mega establishments in other regions.

The second phase will commence 12 months after the issuance of the decisions, on Oct. 17, 2025, when the regulations will extend to all establishments across the Kingdom.

The ministry noted that these decisions, focusing on medical laboratories, radiology, clinical nutrition, and physical therapy, are a continuation of previous efforts to localize healthcare professions.

In addition, they align with the objectives of the Labor Market Strategy and the Health Sector Transformation Program, aiming to support national competencies and provide employment opportunities for young Saudi men and women.

The decision seeks to empower Saudi talent in the healthcare sector by providing attractive and specialized job opportunities nationwide. The Ministry of Health will oversee the implementation to ensure alignment with labor market needs and healthcare specialization requirements.

Private sector establishments will benefit from incentives and support programs offered by the HRSD ministry, which include assistance in recruitment, training, and job retention, in addition to access to various Saudization support programs. Employment support will also be available through the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF).

These decisions are part of the ministries' efforts to create more productive and stimulating job opportunities for Saudi citizens across the Kingdom.

The HRSD Ministry has published a procedural guide on its website, detailing the localization percentages and the professions involved. It emphasized the importance of compliance to avoid legal penalties for non-compliance.