RIYADH: A new study has stressed the need to launch a national campaign to Saudize jobs in order to reduce unemployment among Saudi women.
The study, prepared by a team of researchers at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), also called on the authorities to set up a national agency for women’s skill development and career guidance.
The study, published by Al-Watan newspaper yesterday, urged the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation to establish more facilities to train girls in fields relating to technology, and the chambers of commerce to make greater effort in employing women. “There is a yawning gap between the job market requirements and educational qualifications of our women. This situation continues because few girls study applied sciences at college and university levels,” said the study.
The researchers who met employers in both the private and public sectors. The team studied obstacles in the way of women’s employment, and identified causes and suggested solutions.
The study found that technical educational projects in the Kingdom were planned without any consideration to empower women. It lamented the current system of offering limited seats to women in areas of technical, technological and professional education.
Another problem is the communication gap between job seekers and potential employers. Unemployed women do not get the needed information or guidance about employment opportunities in the Kingdom. On the other hand, employers hardly have any means to know about qualified women looking for jobs.
This is largely because many companies do not care to advertise their job opportunities in newspapers or websites while Saudi women prefer browsing Internet sites and newspapers looking for opportunities.
The study noted that women preferred jobs in the government sector, which protects their rights guaranteed by the Shariah, offers job security and pays better wages.
