Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — A large number of young college graduates said they prefer to be employed in the government sector as it provides them with job security, something they cannot find in the private sector. The graduates said they cannot trust the private sector, which they claimed does not offer sufficient pay, benefits or training or guarantee job security, Al-Bilad daily reported. In response, several businessmen said many young graduates are unqualified for the job market. They said businesses operate to make a profit and, as such, they need to rely on cheaper expatriate manpower. University student Ali Al-Qarni said working in the private sector is an adventure that may or may not be successful. He believes there are plenty of well-qualified Saudis who are not given the opportunity to prove themselves as they are not welcome in the private sector. He added that there are, however, several large, respectable companies that actively seek Saudi talent and provide them with good salaries, benefits and training. Ahmad Al-Shareef, a young graduate, said working in the private sector differs from one industry to another, and there are companies that care for Saudis and prepare them for a long career. He concurred that there are companies that do not offer such opportunities to Saudis, forcing them to seek government jobs where there is greater security. “Such issues should be dealt with by government bodies that are responsible for enforcing Saudization,” he said. Businessman Mesleh Al-Khedaidi said the private sector cannot offer the same benefits given by the government sector because businesses need to make profits and, as a result, prefer to employ expatriates because they are less demanding than Saudis. He believes that concerned bodies should, however, oblige the private sector to offer reasonable salaries and benefits to lure young Saudis. In addition, some companies, he said, ask for impossible qualifications that most Saudis do not have. Ibrahim Al-Fakeih claimed many young graduates work in the private sector until they can find a suitable government job that will provide them with a reasonable salary and job security. He added that many companies ask for job experience, something many young graduates lack. “The private sector should realize its role in localizing jobs by providing the necessary training to young graduates, especially since gaining on-the-job experience is beneficial to the company. Large companies should play a role toward Saudization instead of employing expatriates and offering them salaries and benefits that are not given to Saudis,” he said. Businessman Abdullah Al-Ghamdi believes that young graduates can make or break their success by developing their skills, accepting responsibilities and acknowledging that businesses operate to realize profits. He added, however, that companies should support young graduates and provide them with suitable salaries taking into consideration the rising cost of living. “The Labor Office and the Human Resources Fund should activate their role in monitoring companies and have first-hand knowledge of the obstacles facing Saudis and find suitable solutions to these obstacles,” he said.
