Microsoft Cloud Ecosystem To Create More than 63000 Jobs in Saudi Arabia

Microsoft’s technology ecosystem and the growing popularity of cloud services will create more than 63,400 jobs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the end of 2022, according to new research by the International Data Corporation (IDC). The study also covers findings from other Middle Eastern markets such as UAE, Bahrain and Turkey.

IDC’s white paper analyses the impact of ICT, cloud services, and the Microsoft ecosystem on Saudi Arabia economy between 2017 and 2022, covering a decade of IDC regional findings. The research shows that the implementation of nationwide initiatives such as Saudi Vision 2030 and the efforts of the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission to organize the cloud services. – and other initiatives focused on banking, healthcare, transportation and education – has led to a rise in IT spending and employment.

IDC predicts spending on public cloud services in Saudi Arabia will almost quadruple over the next five years, from SR427.68 million in 2017 to SR1.57 billion in 2022. Between the end of 2017 and the end of 2022, adoption of cloud services will create nearly 55,000 new jobs (net) and the Microsoft technology ecosystem will add 8,400 jobs (net) for a total of 63,400 in net job creation. The Microsoft ecosystem – the companies that sell, service, deploy, or otherwise work with Microsoft products – supported more than 71,250 workers in 2017. The ecosystem itself is a prolific generator of downstream revenues, accounting for SR 11.20 for every SR1 that Microsoft produces, according to IDC estimates.

“Digital transformation has the power to engage customers and citizens, empower employees, optimize operations and reinvent products and services,” said Dr. Mamdouh Najjar, national technology officer at Microsoft Arabia. “IDC’s report clearly shows that private and public organizations have realized these benefits, and are directly or indirectly creating jobs as they invest in their futures. Microsoft is proud of its record of job creation in Saudi Arabia, the wider GCC and beyond. Acceleration of economic growth and innovation and the downstream revenue that comes from the Microsoft ecosystem are natural outcomes from our efforts to help every individual and organization on the planet to achieve more.”