“Popular magazines have described the nation as a desert super-state – a rich, vulnerable, feudal monarchy being hurdled into the space age.” (Moran, Harris & Moran, 2011, p.268)
Although as reported by Moran, Harris & Moran (2011), there were “5 million students enrolled in 24,000 schools, eight universities, and numerous colleges and training centers, … too many Saudi youths in higher education are not being realistically prepared for the present-day job market because their studies are not in line with market realities. Thus, one of every five workers in the kingdom is foreign born. Approximately 1 million immigrants and technicians are in Saudi Arabia to help build the infrastructure and defense as well as to provide new technologies and services. This influx includes Americans, Europeans, Japanese and third-world laborers and servants, such as Filipinos, Africans, and other Middle Easterners.” (Moran, Harris & Moran, 2011, p.269)
Rodolfo Estimo (2015) reports: ““There will be 3,000 job opportunities for unemployed young male and female Saudis, as well as for foreigners, during the tenth session of “Jobs on Air” on Al Danah television channel on Tuesday night. “…The program has received 600 applications from outside the Kingdom … “Aside from helping applicants get employed, we have also enlisted the support of various groups and institutions which could give loans to young Saudis intending to go into business,” he said. … “We hope that the “Jobs on Air’ program will help reduce local unemployment,” Al-Hassan said.” (Estimo, 2015)
Additionally, “with advanced education, Saudi women have begun to enter the business world and the professions, especially teaching, along with social and public services. Though women today make up over half of university enrollment they number only a fraction of the work force. The so-called invisible women are said now to control as much as 40% of private wealth, much of it inherited under the law. Despite social limitations on women … cosmopolitan female Saudis slowly forge ahead.“ (Moran, Harris & Moran, 2011, p.272) However, as reported by an unknown staff writer in the Arab News, “Business sectors in the Kingdom with less than 500 workers are not fit to employ women, at least according to assessments made by the Ministry of Labor’s adviser. In his report, the consultant stated that these kind of firms are unable to implement the ministry’s guidelines to provide a proper working environment for Saudi females. Samer Hussein, adviser to the ministry and chairman of the Human Resources Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that … nationalization should be expanded to include positions of leadership, vocational, consultative and other high-level professions, to employ experienced people and give them salaries that go hand in hand with their expertise. … Unemployment among women, even if they have university degrees, is on the rise, but the recent trend in telecommuting jobs can provide a chance to employ many women.” (Unknown staff, 2015)
A word to the wise — it is important to remember that although there continues to be progress for the role of Saudi women in the marketplace, it is best not to make assumptions that would be viewed as arrogant or disrespectful. Moran, Harris & Moran (2011) state: “Unfortunately, many Westerners and Asians carry distorted cultural images or stereotypes about Middle Easterners and their contributions to human development.” (Moran, Harris & Moran, 2011, p.283) Consequently, this leads to a number of misunderstandings and a jaded view of foreigners’ attitudes and insensitivities. (Moran, Harris & Moran, 2011, pp. 283-283)
Moran, Harris & Moran (2011) also point to the emergence of “a new cooperative relationship” among Middle East nations, preferring collaboration in their efforts to achieve “the economic potential of their region, … [noting] the present and future … opportunities for more synergistic relations….” (Moran, Harris & Moran, 2011, pp. 285-287) There are current events which give rise to hope. Here are just two examples. Rodolfo Estimo (2015) reports on the commencement of talks between delegates from Zambia and Saudi Arabia “to explore ways and means to increase collaboration in various fields between the two countries. … Zambia stands to benefit from Saudi assistance and the Kingdom could potentially benefit from Zambia’s 14.5 million people as a new market for its products, such as petrochemicals and other investments … [and] Zambia benefits from the low prices in the world market, [resulting in] the low cost of energy comes cheaper investment prices for us, as well as cheaper labor costs.” (Estimo, 2015) Also, Hassan (2015) reported the arrival of “South Korean President Park Geun-hye … [to] meet [with the] Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and senior ministers in order to bolster bilateral ties. “The president’s visit will include a meeting with King Salman, and the two leaders will discuss how to bolster bilateral cooperation in various fields, including energy, construction and communication technology as well as on diplomatic and security issues.” (Hassan, 2015) As Moran, Harris and Moran (2015) commented: “Practicing synergy is the key to peace and prosperity in the twenty-first century, both for [the Middle East] and the world.” (Moran, Harris & Moran, 2015, p.287)
References:
Moran, Robert T., Harris, Philip R. and Moran, Sarah V. (2011) Managing Cultural Differences: Global Leadership Strategies for the 21st Century, 8th Ed. Elsevier, Burlington, MA
Estimo, Rodolfo C. Jr. (2015) 3,000 vacancies to be available in next episode of ‘Jobs on Air’. (March 1, 2015) Arab News. Retrieved from: http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/711901
Unknown Staff, (2015) Small to medium companies not fit to employ Saudi women. (March 1, 2015) Arab News. Retrieved from: http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/711886
Estimo, Rodolfo C. Jr. (2015) KSA, Zambia begin talks today. (March 1, 2015) Arab News. Retrieved from: http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/711861
Hassan, Rashid. (2015) Park visit to boost ties with South Korea. (March 1, 2015) Arab News. Retrieved from: http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/711871
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