JEDDAH, 23 March 2003 — A growing number of young Saudis face the specter of unemployment with all the frustration, agony and anxiety that come with it.

As the problem escalates, crimes are rising steadily. So also are divorce rates which are in any case high.

A youngster who, like many, spends his days killing time in public places told Al-Riyadh newspaper that he could see no future. “I am only a number,” he said, “sitting on the sidewalk waiting for a job.”

A Saudi man burst out laughing when asked about the Saudization of the gold market. He said he was looking forward to the Saudization of management jobs, factories, hotels and shopping centers — which are firmly in the hands of foreigners. Once these areas are taken care of, the coal and sheep markets may follow suit.

While some companies do comply with the Saudization policy, many do not. It is common for companies to undermine the policy by putting a number of obstacles in the way of Saudi job-seekers. They include low salaries, lack of benefits such as transport allowance, and lack of job security.

Offered a low salary without benefits, many applicants decide to turn down the job offer. Those who accept may frequently find themselves dismissed under one pretext or another. Often the only reason given is “for the benefit of the company.” The impression is of an invisible sign saying: “Saudis not welcome.”

“It is obvious that many companies are not Saudizing,” Mabrouk Al-Beshri told Al-Riyadh. “There are more than 2,000 marble and pavement companies in Jeddah, and you’ll find hardly any Saudis there. Foreign workers are given good salaries and they are doing nothing but write bills and receive payment.”

“To achieve Saudization, we must first Saudize human resources and management jobs. In Jeddah, there are 50,000 institutions. If each institution is forced to Saudize two jobs a year, then we would have more than 100,000 jobs available for Saudi job-seekers in Jeddah.

“The private sector is making it very hard for Saudis. Some companies expect years of experience for Saudis who have just graduated. Even if they had the experience, I doubt if many would accept the job with the low salary offered,” Al-Beshri said.

It is a no-win situation for Saudis who find it virtually impossible to find employment in the private sector, where 95 percent of positions are occupied by expatriates.