Economic and social factors have forced several young Saudis to start earning their living at an early age, at times even before completion of their studies. But finding jobs these days is a tough task. For those fortunate enough to enroll in universities there are more opportunities since the training they go through in their respective institutions helps them enter the labor market more easily. Fresh graduates are willing to work in any field, for example, as cashiers, tea boys, salesmen, waiters and taxi drivers to help their families get some extra money to eke out a better living. And there are several others who want to make good use of their hard-earned money to go on to higher professional studies to secure their future. Abdurrahman Al-Mohandis, 22, a high school graduate, is proud to earn some money during his free time so that he can gain some experience and amass savings to be used in realizing his dream of becoming a pilot. “I am proud to work, it teaches me how to manage my spending and I have learnt to stop relying on my parents,” said Al-Mohandis. A large number of young Saudis are looking for part-time jobs as they feel it is better than staying home or passing their time idling. “It is very useful in the long run,” he added. This trend is also becoming increasingly visible among young Saudi women. Several young girls have shown their interest in working as part timers during summer vacation. They, of course, opt for female only jobs, such as hairdressers, receptionists and makeup artists. Manar and Nowar Abdul Ghafar, students in King Abdulaziz University here, have opted to spend their summer vacation by working as trainers in summer camps, hoping to gain some experience as well as extra money. “This is our second year as trainers in summer camps; every year we gain more experience and we think that working is really fun and helpful. We also get to help in the administration work which is part of our studies,” said Manar. For several years now, Saudi Arabia has been trying to lessen its dependence on foreign labor by exhorting young citizens to take up lower status jobs. In fact, jobs in many sectors have been nationalized and young Saudis are seizing the opportunity coming their way. The Kingdom has also embarked upon huge infrastructure projects involving the construction of mega cities which will require a huge work force. The Saudi private sector has been unwilling to pay Saudis the salaries they demand, preferring instead to hire expatriate labor. The rate of Saudi employment in the industrial sector stands at only four percent. Statistics show that 337,330 Saudis in the 20-30-year-old age group are unemployed. According to the Ministry of Labor, 30 percent of the employees in the private sector should be Saudis. Fahad Abdullah, an engineering graduate from King Abdulaziz University, worked for two months in order to complete his degree. “My stint in a steel factory during my studies for a bachelor's degree was an enlightening experience. It gave me an opportunity to experience firsthand the industry I intended to work for after completing my studies. It has enabled me to negotiate a better deal with the company I finally decided to work for,” he said. To increase Saudi presence in the private sector, authorities have set a minimum wage, limited the workday to eight hours and created social insurance and pension plans similar to those available in the public sector. Still, many young Saudis refuse to work in low-paid jobs. “It's impossible,” said Mohammed Al-Tayyar, a 29-year-old Saudi who works at an advertising company. “I could never work as a taxi driver; this is unacceptable in our society,” he added. Umran Marghalani, 23, a business management student at KAU, said his social status does not allow him to work in low-paid jobs. “I'm educated, I will not accept a job that does not suit me or my family, he added.” Some young men think that when it comes to marriage, families will not accept low rank jobs since they do not pay much. The parents want to feel that their daughters are economically secure and living a luxurious life. “The difficulty some youth face is that their marriage proposals, more often than not, are rejected,” said Azza Abubakur, a sociologist in KAU. The Labor Ministry intends to nationalize more jobs in the hospitality sector. According to sources at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), there are at least 30,000 jobs in the sector in Jeddah alone, and foreigners currently hold 99 percent of these jobs.
