The Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) has supported the employment of 201,000 male and female citizens in the private sector during the first half of 2023 through its various programs and initiatives, compared to 150,000 during the same period last year. Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi highlighted the support that the fund enjoys from the leadership to develop the skills and capabilities of Saudis, raise the level of their participation in the labor market, and stimulate the private sector to contribute to nationalization efforts, in addition to strengthening the partnership with the relevant authorities in training, employing and empowering national cadres, and increasing their competitiveness and sustainability in the labor market. HRDF Director Turki Al-Jawini said that the fund"s new strategy contributed to enhancing the benefits for individuals and establishments from the fund"s programs and services. He added that 79,000 establishments operating in vital sectors in the Kingdom benefited from the fund"s programs, with a growth rate of 41%, compared to 56,000 establishments during the same period last year, while the support program"s expenditures exceeded SR4.6 billion in the first half of 2023. He stressed that HRDF will continue its efforts to integrate the human resources system to keep pace with the labor market changes, meet its requirements and take into account the needs and priorities related to the sectors, in addition to working on developing programs to support training, empowerment, and guidance directed at national cadres in a way that contributes to achieving the goals of the Kingdom"s Vision 2030 in developing human capabilities and the market strategy.