The Arab Employment Organization has warned of an increase in unemployment in the Arab world. People cannot find employment in the government sector and in the private sector because there are foreign workers who will accept a very low wage. Unemployment may well remain the No. 1 problem in the Arab world for a long time to come. One reason for the increase of unemployment in the Arab world is the growing number of school and university graduates without the skills and expertise required in the job market. In other words, the graduates are searching for positions that do not exist because what they studied does not match what is needed in the job market.
Because there is a shortage in technological fields, many Arab countries have had to recruit foreigners. The need for foreign workers is also felt in the health, social and economic sectors. Some Arab countries went so far in recruiting foreign workers that it is now difficult to employ their own citizens.
Here in the Kingdom, the government sector is as Saudized as it can be; in fact, sometimes more people are employed in the government sector than are actually needed. It is important now to focus on the private sector and encourage the private sector to employ citizens and so reduce unemployment. This is what the private sector is looking to achieve; the government has provided them with the support they need with training institutions to increase the number of qualified citizens who will be able to work and replace foreign workers.
