Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — A large number of Saudi youth said they are not satisfied with job opportunities offered by private companies, describing their relationship with the sector as “lacking in trust”. The participants were asked to answer an online survey about their perception of the private sector. Most respondents said they were not satisfied with job opportunities offered by the sector because they require a great deal of experience they do not have, especially as most of them are fresh graduates. While others attributed job insecurity to low trust levels, other respondents blamed low salaries for the problem. However, all agreed private sector businesses do not want to spend a lot of money on training them and preparing them for the job. Abdul Rahman Hassan, one of the respondents, said the private sector does not make Saudis feel secure in their jobs. He said: “Young men and women want to have a decent pay that helps them live a decent life in light of high living expenses. “They also want work hours to be reduced so that they can spend more time with their families. “Unfortunately, the private sector does not offer any of these privileges. What is worse, most employers view young Saudis as irresponsible when it comes to work.” Muhammad Al-Mahoos blamed employers for the lack of trust, saying they have hindered young Saudis from taking up high positions and preferring expatriates. He claimed employers fear that if they appointed highly qualified Saudi staff they would have to pay them hefty salaries, which is why they preferred expatriates. Muhammad Ashour believed that only by setting starting salaries at SR3,000 can the private sector restore trust with Saudi job seekers. Said Ghalban agreed more Saudis would be interested in the private sector if job opportunities were more lucrative. He wondered why some expatriates get higher salaries and more benefits than their Saudi counterparts. Rashid Gharamallah said the best way to develop trust between private companies and jobseekers is to set minimum salaries for Saudis at SR5,000.
