Saudi-Arabien: Ende der Jugendarbeitslosigkeit in 5 Jahren

Saudische Medien berichteten kürzlich, Saudi-Arabiens Kronprinz Sultan habe angekündigt, die lähmende saudische Jugendarbeitslosigkeit innerhalb der nächsten 5 Jahre zu beenden.


Saudi vows to end youth unemployment in 5 years
Reuters - 02 November, 2006

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Sultan has said the kingdom, which relies heavily on foreign labour, will end crippling unemployment among young Saudis within five years, newspapers and state media said on Wednesday.

The world's largest oil exporter is trying to diversify its economy but faces a major challenge in creating jobs and motivating young people who traditionally look for jobs in the state bureaucracy.

"Balanced development in all regions and in all sectors is a strategic goal of the government," Prince Sultan said in a speech printed in the daily al-Madina.

"Thousands of young Saudis will be drawn in and thus there will be no unemployed youth, who will be assured a government job during the next five years," he added, without giving details on how the jobs would be created.

Prince Sultan, thought to be at least 78 years old, was speaking on the occasion of a trip by King Abdullah to the remote region of Najran on Saudi's southern border with Yemen.

The king has been visiting different regions of the vast country in recent months and announcing development projects funded by a state budget expanding thanks to huge oil revenues.

Labour Minister Ghazi Algosaibi recently called unemployment among the burgeoning youth population "frightening". Over 60 percent of Saudis are thought to be under the age of 21.

Officials offer conflicting numbers on the number of unemployed, recently ranging between 6 and 12 percent.

Saudi Arabia has over 6 million expatriates among its population of 24 million. Many of the foreign workers fill poorly paid jobs which local youths are reluctant to do.