JEDDAH, 22 September — There are 3.2 million unemployed Saudis in the Kingdom, Labor and Social Affairs Minister Dr. Ali Al-Namlah disclosed yesterday.
Citing statistics of the Planning Ministry, he said the rate of unemployment in the country was set to grow every year. He said that about five million jobs, currently occupied by expatriate workers, are waiting to be filled by Saudis.
"There are seven million expatriates in the Kingdom, of whom five million are workers," he said while delivering a lecture at King Abdul Aziz University. "We have Saudis seeking jobs when we have five million expatriate workers in the country," he said, and highlighted his ministry’s efforts to employ Saudis."Still, we feel that we have not done much in Saudization of jobs," Al-Namlah said and pledged greater efforts to create more job opportunities for Saudis. The population of Saudis has now reached 15.7 million with 9.7 million of whom in the working age. "Among them 3.2 million Saudis are seeking jobs," he said.
After 20 years, the number of Saudis will increase to 22 million with 17 million in working age and there will be 8.7 million job opportunities. By 1450H, the number of Saudis will reach 38.5 million with 28.7 million in working age and there will be 13.5 million jobs, he said.
Al-Namlah emphasized the need for strict enforcement of Saudization measures to reduce the country’s growing unemployment problem.
