Saudi Arabia is moving to reduce working hours and days during the next year or the year after, to enhance the quality of work life and increase worker productivity, according to forecasts by human resources consultant Bandar Al-Sufayyir.

Al-Sufayyir predicted during his appearance on the 'Halala' podcast published by Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper, that the Saudi labor market will reduce weekly working hours from 48 hours stipulated in the current system to about 42 hours, and possibly 40 hours in the future.

He pointed out that the productivity of Saudi employees has become among the highest globally, noting that International Labour Organization rankings place Saudi Arabia eighth among G20 countries in terms of worker productivity, ahead of industrial nations such as Japan, China, India, and South Korea.

Regarding the impact of artificial intelligence, he said that many traditional jobs based on routine tasks, data entry, and repetitive administrative work will be the most susceptible to decline in the coming years, while the value of jobs relying on creativity, innovation, and specializations such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data analysis will rise.

On the employment front, he affirmed that professional relationships and career reputation have become among the most important tools for obtaining opportunities, explaining that what some describe as 'wasta' (connections) can be positive when based on recommending competent individuals rather than bypassing fairness standards.

He noted that recommendations from former managers and professional networks on the LinkedIn platform have become among the fastest means of accessing jobs in the private sector.

Regarding Article 77 of the Labor Law, Al-Sufayyir explained that the article represents a procedural mechanism for terminating the contractual relationship, but the financial compensation needs review, proposing linking it to factors such as years of experience, marital status, and number of family members, to mitigate the economic impact on employees whose services are terminated.

In terms of talent development, he stressed that the university degree still retains its value in many specializations, but it is no longer the sole factor in employment, as professional certifications, practical skills, experience, and speed of learning have become more influential in hiring decisions, especially with the increasing demand for graduates of technical and vocational specializations.

He affirmed that emotional intelligence is now the most important soft skill required in work environments, due to its role in building relationships, managing teams, and dealing with stress, noting that most employees leave their direct manager more than they leave the job itself.

He also warned of the dangers of job burnout, noting that the World Health Organization has classified it as an occupational phenomenon that may lead to serious health problems, citing incidents in Saudi Arabia of employees suffering health breakdowns or death due to work pressure or job loss.

Regarding achieving high salaries, Al-Sufayyir confirmed that earning an income exceeding 100,000 riyals per month within 10 years is not impossible, but it requires choosing high-demand specializations in sectors such as technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, investment, and law.