Freelance workforce growth is accelerating in Saudi Arabia as the number of local freelance workers has almost doubled in the first half of this year, with the economy showing more signs of recovery from the pandemic.

The number of Saudis who obtained a freelance employment document has reached 631,518, since the launch of a licensing program in 2019, up by 86 percent, according to figures from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

“People registered in 2021 so far have reached 292,315, while 282,766 citizens were registered in 2020,” the ministry told Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper.

Rana Zumai, a consultant who advises small and medium enterprises in the Kingdom, told Arab News