CURRENT economic realities coupled with the technological revolution have made young Saudis change the way they look at work. Today, most young men and women do not care about the type of work they do as long as they get paid, Al-Riyadh daily reports. A strong spirit of entrepreneurship has resulted in a significant increase in the number of small businesses in the Kingdom. Roadside food and beverage stalls that sell anything from sandwiches, local foods such as balila, coffee and even fruit juice have sprouted up near many major roads. Others acquire a skill by enrolling in a cell phone maintenance course, for example, and then go on to open a repair and maintenance store. All small businesses are owned and run by Saudis with no foreign labor taking part. Many social commentators and educational experts agree that Saudis' view about jobs has changed as much as that they no longer consider any work menial or degrading. More than ever before the young people realize the importance of work and saving money. That is why it is not uncommon nowadays to see young Saudi men working in cafés or retail shops. Dr. Muhammad Al-Qahtani, a psychology professor, said young men searching for jobs are now ready to accept any work. "What is important for them is a regular income," he said. "Many young Saudi men and women used to view doing certain jobs as socially degrading because they were raised in a family background that stigmatized such work. The way we look at things change and get influenced by countless social and economic factors and circumstances. It is a good thing to see our youth attach much importance to work. They very well know that they have left no option but to work hard in order to realize dreams and achieve goals," he said. Al-Qahtani urged parents to instill the value of work in the minds of children when they are young. They must teach their children that it is okay to start from the bottom. "One sometimes has to do certain simple jobs before finding a better one and there is no shame in it. There are many stepping stones before reaching the top level," Al-Qahtani said, while encouraging young Saudis to accept jobs that expatriates dominate and try to compete with them in order to win the trust of employers and gain necessary experience. "This is the best time for Saudis to fill jobs that are usually done by expatriates, especially in light of the fact that the government supports 100 percent Saudization in many sectors," he added. Dr. Abdulghani Al-Harbi, associate professor of sociology at Umm Al-Qura University, said more and more educational and civil society institutions encourage young Saudis to take up any jobs that come their way. "Most parents nowadays have become more accepting to menial jobs because of the economic situation. However, some jobs are still unacceptable and frowned upon; no parent would let his son or daughter do such jobs," he noted. Maha Al-Qattan, a sociologist, said young Saudi men work today as plumbers, barbers, blacksmiths and drivers. Undoubtedly, the mentality of the Saudi youths has changed because they have discovered any job that can generate a decent income is a good job. "In the past, most families would not let their daughters marry a plumber or a barber but this view no longer exists. As long as the man has a good income and can provide for a family, he will be welcomed in most Saudi families," he said.
