RIYADH: The number of vacant positions in government jobs has reached 319,474 which is 20.5 percent of total government jobs.

Most of these vacant positions are in the health and education sector, an online newspaper reported, citing an unnamed source at the Ministry of Civil Service.

The total occupied job positions in the public sector is 1,240,747.

Among the total vacant positions, there are 73,324 jobs which were supposed to be filled by the ministry. There are 82 higher grade

positions vacant. Between grades 11 and 15, there are 4,781 jobs vacant. There are also 1,731 grades 1-10 jobs vacant.

Some of these vacant jobs were supposed to have to been filled by the ministry. Government agencies and public sector organizations are to fill the rest of the jobs.

There are 20,049 vacant jobs in faculties of educational institutions and the position of lecturer. Also there are 3,713 jobs for judges and 2,806 vacancies in the public prosecution and investigation sector.

The ministry has said that there were jobs for which Ministry of Civil Service takes measures to fill. Some of these require high qualifications while some are announced around the year.

There are 35,518 vacant jobs in the health sector and 133,048 jobs in the education sector.