LinkedIn’s virtual workshops help 54,000 students in KSA prepare for the future of work

 LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, provided virtual training sessions to over 54,000 students in Saudi Arabia covering a range of topics geared to help them build their personal and professional brand, while gaining a deeper understanding of the current job market. The training sessions took place over three months and were conducted in collaboration with the Authority of People with Disability, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University.

In line with Saudi Vision 2030’s mission to provide equal opportunities to the country’s youth by developing and deploying relevant skills, LinkedIn curated a series of two-hour sessions that offered participants insights on the importance of building their professional profile. In addition, they were provided advice on job interviews as well as how to be an active LinkedIn member and use the platform.

Ali Matar, Head of LinkedIn EMEA Emerging Markets, Middle East & Africa, said: “Saudi Arabia is a young nation with those between the age of 15 to 34 years making up the largest demographic in the country. In a rapidly evolving job market, being driven by the demand for new skills, we recognize the need to prepare young people for the future of work. Over the past few months, with the support of our partners, we have worked to help future-proof the upcoming workforce and play our part in the recovery and growth of the economy. We look forward to them joining our 740 million members globally, including four million LinkedIn members in Saudi Arabia, and engaging in active and productive conversations on the platform to further their careers.”

Another key goal of the nation is to enable those with disabilities to receive the education and job opportunities that can ensure their independence and effective integration into society. Collaborating with the Authority of People with Disability, all workshops were virtual and delivered in English and Arabic, increasing accessibility to as wide an audience as possible.

Commenting on the initiative, Reem Alharbi, KSA Country Lead, said: “I am overwhelmed with the impact our program has had. Being able to make a change, big or small, in the professional lives of over 54,000 students and the Saudi youth in the span of three months is a leap towards further recovery. We developed these online sessions with the help of industry experts to educate and empower our youth, who are the future drivers of our economy.”

Last year LinkedIn rolled out the beta of its Career Explorer tool globally in English. The interactive tool helps job seekers find new career opportunities and identify any additional skills they may need, along with LinkedIn Learning courses that can help fill those gaps. LinkedIn is also offering members over 1000 hours of free learning courses so that they can equip themselves with the skills required for the most in demand jobs. More than 13 million people have gained digital skills through these resources to date.