RIYADH: Around 1,500 young men vied for 980 employment opportunities during a job fair at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry here recently.

Twenty-two private sector companies had advertised vacancies and suitable candidates were selected on the basis or merit.

The fair was organized by the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC).

The sectors that participated were financial, banking, insurance, electricity, electronics, telecommunications, transportation, food, tourism, security, safety and hospitality.

The participants called for such job fairs for women to fill up vacancies available for them. There is currently 32.8 percent unemployment among women, while the unemployment rate among men is only 5.7 in the capital.

Before the interviews, the job-seekers attended an orientation program to prepare themselves for the viva voce. An official from HRDF thanked the participating companies.

Recently, the TVTC launched new training programs with several companies including Aramco to prepare young Saudis for the country’s industries.

The TVTC announced further cooperation with Saudi Aramco. It had last year set up a course with Aramco which saw 934 Saudis graduate with various skills for the oil industry.

The announcement was made by TVTC Governor Ahmed bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid at a meeting with Aramco’s Training and Development Department head Nabil Al-Dabl. According to Al-Fuhaid, 6,000 Saudis are being trained at six training institutes in various regions.

Al-Fuhaid said the TVTC has set up 21 specialized institutes in various fields under the scheme where Saudis are trained and then employed by various companies. The TVTC has also entered into a partnership with Al-Rajhi Steel Industries Limited with 4,310 Saudis studying metallurgy.

The TVTC is also setting up an energy sector council for technical training, which will include Saudi Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Saudi Electricity Company, Saudi Property Company, Saline Water Conversion Corporation, and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu.