At a recent forum in the Eastern Province, the Saudi Aramco vice chairman spoke of future energy projects worth SR487 billion. He pointed out that the projects would result in job opportunities for 750,000 Saudis.
Previous surveys by the Labor Ministry have shown that the number of unemployed Saudis is no more than 300,000. Mathematically this means the problem of unemployment in the Kingdom could be solved over five years since the number of jobs available is double that of those seeking jobs. Reality, however, points to something else. The matter is not that simple and what is said on paper may not necessarily reflect facts on the ground. According to the International Labor Organization, unemployment in the Kingdom is estimated at 25 percent. This is a high figure by any standards and should not be taken seriously.
In any case, unemployment in Saudi Arabia is not the result of the presence of foreign workers as we keep saying. It is instead the outcome of a combination of things, including rates of economic and population growth, prevailing work culture, the standard of human resources in terms of qualifications and capabilities and other factors.
Identifying and addressing the root causes of the problem represent the first step toward a solution. Seeking other means will only lead to temporary solutions and these in turn will lead to limited and temporary resolutions.
The Human Resources Development Fund is playing an important role in employing Saudis in the private sector, but as a development fund, its role should extend beyond collecting fees and preparing job applicants for employment. The fund should be transformed into a public human resource authority with a broader mission that also acts as a link between the private sector and our educational institutions. We continue to suffer structural discrepancies in both the job market and the educational system. These problems need a body with much wider powers and a clearly defined mandate.
