Saudi Arabia will host the third edition of the Global Labor Market Conference at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh on Jan. 26-27, 2026.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced the conference will take place under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Centred around the theme “Future in Progress,” the conference will bring together policymakers, business leaders, labour market experts and representatives from international organizations to address workforce and labour challenges, according to the ministry.
“This conference reflects the Kingdom’s continued commitment to advancing international collaboration and developing innovative solutions that strengthen labour markets and enable workers everywhere,” said Eng. Ahmad bin Sulaiman AlRajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.
More than 45 ministers expected to attend
The third edition will bring together more than 45 international ministers, including for a dedicated Ministerial Roundtable, to advance policy solutions for labour issues globally, according to the ministry.
The program features six thematic pillars covering the impact of trade shifts and AI on the workforce, new skills, workers operating in the shadow economy, workforce resilience and aligning labour markets with human progress.
The conference will introduce several new formats this year, including policy hackathons to develop innovative policy solutions, spotlights where speakers present their biggest workforce challenge and boldest policy experiment, and opportunities for academics to select pressing topics for debate and challenge, according to organizers.
In total, more than 200 speakers and more than 7,000 attendees are expected to participate in over 50 engagements across the program.
Conference evolved into year-round think tank
Launched in 2023, the Global Labor Market Conference has evolved into a year-round global think tank dedicated to advancing research, innovation and partnerships for the advancement of global labour markets, according to organizers.
Through ongoing initiatives such as the Global Labor Market Academy, a partnership between the conference, the World Bank and Takamol Holding, the conference has established itself as a catalyst for action, creating solutions that empower governments, businesses and workers to shape more sustainable labour systems, the organizers said.
