ISSN: 2226-3624
Open access
While there are many developed and developing countries striving to offer enough jobs for its people, Saudi Arabia has plenty of job opportunities. However, it has been facing an ongoing number of internal economic challenges such as a high portion of unemployment amongst its young citizens, a high portion of foreign workers compared to its nationals, and a mismatch between the global market needs and the Saudi curriculum. Alternatively, Saudi Arabia started to enhance the level of education of its people either by sending them to the well-known universities abroad through the King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP), or by improving its education system and its curriculum as a way of solving its economic challenges.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has a unique society appearance in its adherence to its inherited values. Hence, it is challenging for the government of Saudi Arabia to offer solutions without changing parts of the culture. This paper will provide a comprehensive background about the Saudi labour market (from past to present) that should be expressing the roots of some of the current challenges. Then, it will explain a number of programs/strategies that the Saudi government is implementing to solve these challenges. Finally, this paper will discuss some of the other cultural difficulties that may shrink the efforts of the Saudi government in coping with its challenges.
Achoui, M. M. (2009). Human resource development in gulf countries: An analysis of the trends and challenges facing Saudi Arabia. Human Resource Development International, 12(1), 35-46. doi:10.1080/13678860802638826
Arab News. (2013). Saudi youth, the issue of unemployment and work ethic. Retrieved from http://www.arabnews.com/columns/saudi-youth-issue-unemployment-and-work-ethic
Al-yahya, K. (2009). Power-influence in decision making, competence utilization, and organizational culture in public organizations: The arab world in comparative perspective. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 19(2), 385-407. doi:10.1093/jopart/mun005
Alzamil, I. (2011). Monopoly in Saudi Arabia. Retirieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLeDCIup5Ak.
Beverelli, C., Dellerba, S., & Rocha, N. (2011). Dutch disease revisited. oil discoveries and movements of the real exchange rate when manufacturing is resource-intensive. International Economics and Economic Policy, 8(2), 139-153. doi:10.1007/s10368-011-0190-3
Bahgat, G. (1999). "Education in the Gulf Monarchies: Retrospect and Prospect." International Review of Education.Vol. 45, No. 2 (1999), pp. 127-136. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1003610723356
Bukhari, F., & Denman, B. (2013). Student Scholarships in Saudi Arabia: Implications and Opportunities for Overseas Engagement. In Higher Education in Saudi Arabia (pp. 151-158). Springer Netherlands.
Bjerke, B., & Al-Meer, A. (1993). Culture's consequences: Management in Saudi Arabia. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 14(2), 30-30.
Central Department of Statistics and Information. (2013). Latest statistical Releases. Retrieved from http://www.cdsi.gov.sa/english/
Central Department of Statistics and Information . (2013). Saudi Population. Retrieved from http://www.cdsi.gov.sa/english/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=233&Itemid=113
Central Department of Statistics and Information. (2013). Saudi Employed. Retrieved from http://www.cdsi.gov.sa/english/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=233&Itemid=113
Central Department of Statistics and Information. (2009). Percentage of non-Saudi workers. Retrieved from http://www.cdsi.gov.sa
Coleman, I. (2012, June). Saudi Arabia’s Study Program. [Online] Available: http://blogs.cfr.org/coleman/2012/06/26/saudi-arabias-study-abroad-program/#
Department of Immigration and Citizenships. (2013). Skilled Occupation List. Retrieved from http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/sol.pdf
General Organization for Social Insurance.(2013). Calculations of Saudi Monthly Wages. Retrieved from http://www.gosi.gov.sa/portal/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=f265fcf3-b09c-4094-9d27-ce6217f22c85&groupId=16
Hafiz. (2011). Hafiz. Retrieved from https://www.hafiz.gov.sa/HRDFWeb/
Hilal, K. T. (2013). Between the Fears and Hopes for a Different Future for the Nation-states: Scholarship Programs in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates from a Public Policy Standpoint. International Journal of Higher Education, 2(2), p195.
Hilal, K. T., & Denman, B. D. (2013). Education as a Tool for Peace? The King Abdullah Scholarship Program and Perceptions of Saudi Arabia and UAE post 9/11. Higher Education Studies, 3(2), p24.
Idris, A. M. (2007). Cultural barriers to improved organizational performance in saudi arabia. S.A.M.Advanced Management Journal, 72(2), 36-53,2. http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.une.edu.au/docview/231244930?accountid=17227
International Monetary Fund. (2013). Saudi Arabia: Selected Issues. Retrieved from http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2013/cr13230.pdf
Khawater. (2013). Golden Jobs. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhEgON0Yd00&list=PLM7DHPAGxHOEWklGTbrQUoSEq7Ij-V7Df
Mellahi, K. (2006). Human resource development through vocational education in Gulf Cooperation Countries: the case of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 52(2), 329-344. DOI:10.1080/13636820000200119.
Mellahi, K. (2007). The effect of regulation on HRM: Private sector firms in saudi arabia. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 18(1), 85-99. http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.une.edu.au/docview/621642209?accountid=17227
Ministry of Civil Service. (2013). Salaries Ladders. Retrieved from: http://www.mcs.gov.sa/en/Pages/Message.aspx Date of Access
Ministry of Higher Education. (2010). King Abdullah Scholarship Program to continue for five years to come. Retrieved from http://www.mohe.gov.sa/en/news/Pages/an74.aspx Date of Access
Ministry of Higher Education. (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.mohe.gov.sa/en/studyaboard/King-Abdulla-hstages/Pages/goals-a.aspx accessed on 20 September 2013
Ministry of Higher Education. (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.mohe.gov.sa/en/studyaboard/King-Abdulla-hstages/Pages/Vision-a.aspx accessed on 20 September 2013
Ministry of Higher Education. (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.mohe.gov.sa/en/studyaboard/King-Abdulla-hstages/Pages/mission-a.aspx accessed on 20 September 2013
Ministry of Higher Education. (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.mohe.gov.sa/en/studyaboard/King-Abdulla-hstages/Pages/study-levels-academic-disciplines-a.aspx accessed on 20 September 2013
Ministry of Finance. (2012). Retrieved from: http://www.mof.gov.sa/English/DownloadsCenter/Budget/Statement%20by%20the%20Ministry%20of%20Finance%202012%20Final.pdf accessed on 20 September 2013
Ministry of Higher Education. (2013). Retrieved from: http://safeer.mohe.gov.sa/Sites/Student/Pages/default.aspx
Ministry of Labor. (2013). Nitaqat. Retrieved from http://www.emol.gov.sa/nitaqat/pages/default.aspx# Date of access
Ninth Development Plan. (2010). Ministry of Economic and Planning. Retrieved from http://www.mep.gov.sa/index.jsp;jsessionid=907D85764464140A20DC665B29365700.alfa?event=ArticleView&Article.ObjectID=79.
Oilwell7. (2013). Oilewell7. Retrieved from www.oilwell7.com
Riyadh News. (2013). KASP Internships in USA. Retrieved from http://www.alriyadh.com/2013/02/17/article810918.html (date)
Arab News. (2013). Saudi Arabia’s ‘golden age of learning’ under King Abdullah. Retrieved from http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia’s-‘golden-age-learning’-under-king-abdullah
Tesluk, P. E., & Jacobs, R. R. (1998). Toward an integrated model of work experience. Personnel Psychology, 51(2), 321-355.
Voice of American. (2012). IMF: Private Sector May Not Keep Pace with Saudi Youth Bulge. Retrieved from http://www.voanews.com/content/saudi-arabia-youth-bulge-private-sector-economy/1709481.html
YouTube. (2013). Electronic marketing company. retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvv1-X5siJg
(Alfawaz et al., 2014)
Alfawaz, A., Hilal, K., & Alghannam, Z. (2014). Would the Educational Programs help in Solving Saudi Arabia’s Employment Challenges? International Journal of Academic Research in Economics and Management Sciences, 3(1), 22–35.
Copyright: © 2018 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode