Prime Highlights:
- Saudi Arabia introduced the Industry & Mining Occupations & Skills Framework to standardise job roles and skill requirements in the mining and industrial sectors.
- The framework aims to improve workforce planning, career clarity, and alignment of education and training with industry needs.
Key Facts:
- The framework covers over 500 job roles, 300 professional specialties, 600 skills, and 900 certifications, with detailed profiles for each occupation.
- Developed with government agencies, private companies, and academic institutions, it supports workforce growth amid rising mineral resource valuations estimated at SR9.37 trillion.
Background:
Saudi Arabia has launched a new national skills framework to strengthen workforce development in the mining and industrial sectors, as the Kingdom is stepping up investment under Vision 2030. Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef introduced the initiative during the Global Labor Market Conference 2026.
The framework, called the Industry & Mining Occupations & Skills Framework, is designed to standardise job roles and clearly define the skills required across mining and industrial activities. It will act as a national guide for employers, job seekers and training providers. It will help them understand labour demand and career paths more clearly.
Speaking at the event, Alkhorayef said the framework provides clear definitions of occupations and required skills. He said the framework covers more than 500 job roles and explains the responsibilities, job titles, and key skills for each role. The goal is to help with organized workforce planning and better match education and training with what industries need.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the framework includes more than 500 industrial occupations, over 300 professional specialties, 600 skills, and 900 professional certifications. It sets standard job titles, descriptions, and skill requirements. This helps with hiring, performance management, and improving competitiveness in the sector.
Each occupation is mapped through a detailed profile that includes job codes, descriptions, key tasks, educational qualifications and required skills. These profiles are expected to give employees clearer career paths and help job seekers identify roles that match their qualifications and training needs.
The nearly 3,200-page framework was developed in collaboration with the General Authority for Statistics, along with other government agencies, private sector companies, and academic institutions. The launch comes at a time when Saudi Arabia’s mining sector is gaining pace. Recent surveys of the Arabian Shield have significantly increased estimates of the Kingdom’s mineral resources. Official valuations have risen by around 90 percent to about SR9.37 trillion, reinforcing the need for skilled talent to support long-term industrial and mining growth.
