The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development convened the eighth meeting of the heads of sectoral skills councils, under the patronage of His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for the Labor Sector, Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abu Thanain. This meeting forms part of HRSD's ongoing efforts to elevate skill levels across various sectors.

His Excellency opened the meeting by expressing his gratitude to the heads of the sectoral skills councils, commending their efforts in leading the work within their respective sectors. Following this, Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Zahrani, the Undersecretary of the Ministry for Skills and Training, provided an updated overview of the national initiatives being spearheaded by the Ministry’s Skills and Training Agency. These initiatives include the Sectoral Skills Councils, the Skills Accelerator, the National Professional Standards, the National Program to Incentivize Private Sector Training, the National Campaign to Encourage Private Sector Training "Waad," and the Skills Survey Project, conducted in partnership with the World Bank. The General Secretariat of the Sectoral Skills Councils also presented an update on the councils' progress and the development of a specialized skills framework for various sectors. This framework will assist in identifying the skills required by the labor market and anticipating future sectoral needs. The International Labor Organization (ILO) was represented at the meeting by the head of its Skills Sector, who discussed several topics related to skills development and alignment with education and training systems. The ILO emphasized the vital role of the skills councils in anticipating future skills demands, enabling educational and training institutions to create programs that foster and build these necessary skills.

 It is important to note that the Sectoral Skills Councils are an integral part of the Labor Market Strategy, approved by Cabinet Resolution No. (254) dated 23/4/1442 AH. The councils aim to raise skill levels in key sectors by identifying sector-specific skill requirements and predicting future needs. This effort promotes coordination between the public and private sectors, as well as alignment with the education and training system. The Sectoral Skills Councils consist of 12 sector-specific councils managed by representatives from government bodies, regulatory agencies, the private sector, committees, and the Federation of Saudi Chambers.