78% expats in Kingdom work force

JEDDAH: Saudi nationals make up just 22 percent of the Kingdom’s 11.07 million-strong work force, according to a report carried by Aleqtesadiah newspaper. The Saudi unemployment rate continued to decline, however, falling to 651,300 at the end of the second half of 2014, from 657,000 by the end of the first half. Saudis are attracted in big numbers to public sector jobs because of several privileges associated with such careers, said Ihsan Buhulaiga, a former member of the Shoura Council and an economic expert. He told Arab News that many Saudis opt for temporary jobs in private companies while waiting for government jobs. The total work force comprised 78 percent expat workers at the end of 2014 despite the Labor Ministry’s efforts to create more opportunities for citizens in the private sector, the report pointed out. It said the number of Saudis working in the writing, sales and service sectors increased by 67,700, 34,300 and 35,100 respectively in 2014 in comparison to the previous year. The number of Saudi technicians in the scientific and humanitarian fields dropped by 41,500. The report also revealed that the number of Saudi workers in agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing decreased by 18,400. The chemical and food industries saw a reduction of Saudi workers by 5,200, while the number of citizens in basic engineering dropped by 5,400 workers. The number of foreign workers increased in six occupations. Of them, the technical and humanitarian fields and the sales sector witnessed an increase of 52,500 and 109,300 workers, respectively. -arabnews