Kingdom Determined to Eradicate Unemployment in 5 Years - Arab News

JEDDAH, 21 February 2005 — Saudi Arabia is determined to eradicate unemployment within five years and increase the pace of Saudization, Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi told the ongoing 6th Jeddah Economic Forum yesterday.

“There is a plan to employ 120,000 Saudis in the private sector every year,” he said focusing on the national employment strategy.

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Labor Minister Gosaibi emphasized that the ongoing program of Saudization was in full swing and all qualified and skilled Saudis would find jobs. The Kingdom has 75 training institutes with extensive courses for various professions and vocations. “They’re expected to train 300,000 young Saudis within three years,” the minister said, adding that education is also being given due importance with the opening of 40 more secondary schools Kingdomwide.

The apprehensions expressed by the private sector that they are still not fully prepared to Saudize their staff are unfounded, according to him. “They’re used to importing foreign labor for the last 30 years and naturally find it difficult to carry on without them. They should be able to get over the passing phase and adjust themselves to the growing reality of employing Saudi labor,” he said.

This is not going to go according to plan.

And will young Saudis adjust to a growing reality of choosing between (a) taking a job only ex pats would accept in the past and (b) no job? Eventually, when expectations catch up to reality.