There’s no denying that women are increasingly gaining independence, and carving a niche for themselves in the workforce. While women in the west have enjoyed a largely independent and open lifestyle, women in more conservative parts of the world have faced discrimination when it came to equal rights and opportunities.
As it stands today, women in Saudi Arabia—of all ages and varying education levels—are slowly but surely joining the workforce at higher rates. According to a study by Brookings Institute, the participation of women in the labour force has increased from 20 per cent to 33 per cent in the last two years. However, the report identified two groups that saw the largest increases—Saudi women between the ages of 40 and 54, and those with a higher degree.
In a blog post, the institute stated, “That is to say that the share of Saudi women in the labour market expanded by an incredible 64 per cent in just two years!” That said, the non-profit organisation, Human Rights Watch, reiterates the fact that Saudi Arabia still has a long way to go when it comes to women’s rights.
The Crown Prince of Saudi, Mohammed bin Salman, as part of his Vision 2030 plan to diversify the country’s economy, has fronted initiatives to change the economic and societal rules, particularly for women. One of the initiatives in his plan aims is to increase women’s participation in the workforce to 30 per cent, a goal that has, since the initiative’s announcement, been achieved.