Economic Empowerment of Women in Saudi Arabia – Assessing Progress and Identifying Constraints

Reforms aimed at increasing the engagement of Saudi women in the economy and broader society have been central to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda. Nevertheless, the participation of Saudi women in the labor market remains lower than would be anticipated given the kingdom’s income and education levels, while positions of power remain mostly the domain of men. Has there been substance to reforms aimed at increasing female labor force participation? What more needs to be done to see more women in the workforce, starting businesses, and attaining positions of power?

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