Under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may Allah protect him, Riyadh will host on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, the second edition of the Global Labor Market Conference (GLMC) , themed "The Future of Work." The event is set to bring together high-level participants, including 45 labor ministers, presidents and representatives of international organizations focused on labor markets, as well as over 5,000 attendees and 200 speakers representing policymakers, experts, and specialists from more than 100 countries around the world.
Organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the two-day conference will take place at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh. It will feature a wide range of activities, including a ministerial roundtable meeting, the signing of several agreements, an exhibition showcasing key products developed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development—many of which have won local, regional, and global awards—and bilateral meetings between government, private sector, and international professional labor organizations.
Additionally, the event will include the fourth edition of the Labor Award Ceremony, along with more than 50 specialized dialogue sessions co-organized with the International Labor Organization (ILO), the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and Misk Foundation, lending the conference a truly international character that enriches discussions and enhances its outcomes.
The conference, themed "The Future of Work," aims to present creative solutions, best practices, and global experiences while addressing challenges facing labor markets worldwide. It will highlight sustainable human capacity development to keep pace with rapid changes, increase productivity through innovative solutions that balance economic growth with performance efficiency, and explore youth-related challenges by identifying ways to empower them to maximize their potential. Furthermore, it will emphasize green jobs as part of global efforts toward a fair and sustainable economy, as well as the role of small businesses and new work models in creating innovative job opportunities that support economic growth and enhance global labor market competitiveness.
In a statement, His Excellency Engineer Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, expressed gratitude for the generous patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, underscoring the Kingdom's commitment to supporting international efforts in addressing the accelerating challenges in labor markets. He noted that the conference aims to bring together key global stakeholders to develop a shared vision that promotes sustainable growth and achieves success and prosperity for all.
The Minister added that this edition of the conference focuses on offering innovative and sustainable solutions to advance labor market policies, empower talent, and strengthen international cooperation. He expressed confidence that the conference would represent a significant step toward realizing these ambitious goals and translating them into tangible actions that support the future of global labor markets.
The Global Labor Market Conference serves as an exceptional global platform, uniting governments, international institutions, the private sector, experts, and academics to discuss the current state of labor markets and envision their future, with a focus on providing practical and sustainable solutions to the challenges they face.
One of the primary objectives of hosting this conference is to enhance the attractiveness and global competitiveness of the Saudi labor market, while aligning international efforts to produce actionable strategies that contribute to the sustainability and evolution of labor markets both locally and globally. This landmark event underscores Saudi Arabia’s leadership role in driving meaningful dialogue and fostering collaboration to shape the future of work worldwide.
