International Labor Market Conference: 6 decisive actions to address employment challenges
The ministerial meeting within the third edition of The International Labor Market Conference, headed by the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Ahmed Al-Rajhi, with the participation of 40 labor ministers from countries representing the G20, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, along with Gilbert Hongbo, Director-General of the International Labor Organization.
In his opening speech, the Minister of Human Resources stressed the importance of constructive dialogue, stressing that the ministerial meeting represents a basic pillar for enhancing international cooperation and aims To exchange constructive visions and experiences between ministers and senior officials, and focus on practical experiences in Current labor markets, and areas of future cooperation capable of achieving tangible results.
6 critical actions
The meeting resulted in the participating ministers agreeing on six critical actions, which are: developing methodologies for skills recognition and transferability in terms of improving skills recognition and enhancing their flexibility in the labor market, allowing movement between sectors and across borders, and directing the responsible use of artificial intelligence in labor market systems by employing Artificial intelligence in workforce decisions while ensuring transparency, governance and oversight.
The measures also included adapting social protection systems to support mobility and occupational transitions by ensuring that social protection transitions with workers as the nature of work and career paths change, enhancing the use of data to actively connect individuals with opportunities and strengthening labor market infrastructure through data and analytics to support the link between employment and skills development.
The ministers agreed to enhance workforce planning to anticipate periods of turmoil by preparing employment systems to confront economic shocks. And structural transformations, and improving paths to obtaining a first job and returning to the labor market by enabling paths that connect individuals with valuable and meaningful career advancement opportunities.
The ministerial meeting, which is being held for the third time in Riyadh, is a pivotal element of the International Labor Market Conference, as it has become a leading global platform for promoting evidence-based dialogue and supporting international cooperation on the future of labor markets, in partnership with leading international organizations, including the International Labor Organization, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United Nations Development Program, and the International Organization for Migration, The United Nations Tourism Organization, the Kings Trust International Foundation, and the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk).
The International Labor Market Conference will be held over the course of two days, January 26-27, 2026, under the slogan “Shaping the Future,” at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, with high-level participation from labor ministers, presidents, and representatives from international organizations, the private sector, academic institutions, decision makers, thought leaders, and experts from various countries of the world, in addition to the participation of… More than 200 speakers in more than 50 dialogue sessions, with an attendance of more than 10,000 participants from inside and outside the Kingdom.
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