Rashid Al-Fowzan
We are mistaken if we believe having a large number of degree holders is a positive sign because it will open the door of job opportunities wide for them, which is not correct. This does not mean we do not need any more people who have obtained postgraduate degrees in science or highly qualified academics. Yes, we need them but there should be some sort of balance.
When we look for a mechanic or an electrician or carpenter, upholsterer, salesman or a restaurant worker, we see so many degree holders around us. Then we realize that all these jobs are occupied by expatriates. Authorities then decide to Saudize these jobs.
Nationalization of jobs is essential for development and fighting unemployment. But how can we employ people who are holding master’s degrees and PhDs to perform menial jobs? The labor market is saturated with degree holders when it actually requires workers having multiple skills and talents.
How can we Saudize all jobs when there are experts who believe that certain jobs are not suitable for Saudis as they are not up to their standard? These kinds of advices given to jobless young Saudi men and women would force them to remain unemployed. On the other hand, they should be advised to take up any job to earn a living and support themselves and their families.
Inspired by such wrong ideas, many Saudis who are reluctant to take up menial jobs prefer to sit back home or squander time in coffee shops while they see foreigners serving them. Saudis should have taken the jobs at coffee shops, even if they had obtained university degrees, instead of sitting jobless and leaving the available jobs to foreigners. Such jobs would help Saudis get an income to lead a decent life. This is much better than the unemployment of choice.
It is highly important that we create a real job market where Saudis devote their skills and capabilities to perform all kinds of jobs. In order to achieve this goal, we must prepare them mentally and culturally and convince them that there should not be any condition for jobs, especially for people who want to earn a living and meet their daily financial requirements.
People normally begin their career with small jobs and reach better positions when they gain enough training and experience. We have to change the attitude of people toward work and convince them that there is no shame in doing any job. We have to educate young generations about a new job culture so that they would not copy the attitude and culture of previous generations.
We should also educate some of our writers and columnists who have raised the job ceiling of Saudis and instilled in their minds the idea that certain jobs do not suit their stature. There is nothing wrong in seeking high paying jobs but it should match with the reality. Instead of remaining jobless for years a person should embrace whatever job readily available to him.
People should realize that the number of unemployed graduates is increasing day by day. A wise graduate should take whatever job is available because if he remains hesitant somebody else will take it instead and he will continue to remain jobless.
Young Saudis should penetrate the job market ready to take any jobs offered by employers and should prove that they are capable of doing them perfectly and efficiently. They should not listen to those who have raised their job ceiling because they have not yet worked to reach that position. We should put an end to the unemployment of choice.
I think that we have to teach and train our students from the secondary school level to do various jobs and increase their awareness on the importance of work. Many tradesmen and free entrepreneurs have gained more income than those who have obtained high degrees. Degree holders spend half of their lifetime in studies.
I have not intention to belittle anybody. What I want to emphasize here is that our young minds should be nurtured to absorb new work culture and develop an attitude to overcome the difficulties of life. They need a serious approach to life, hard work and perseverance, rather than degrees, for success.
