Saudization failing as expat professionals still occupying public sector positions

According to a recent study, 60,386 Saudi public sector jobs are being held by expat professionals.

Saudi Arabia’s recently released analysis of expatriate uptake in public sector jobs seems to indicate Saudization is still failing at the professional level. Whilst the Kingdom isn’t as popular with career-oriented expats as in the past, expatriate specialists still seem to occupy the majority of education and healthcare positions. Foreign healthcare professionals are found in 43,386 positions within the sector, whilst professional expat educators hold 14,743 jobs.

The figures show that, in spite of a push by various ministries to encourage newly-graduated Saudi nationals to take over expat jobs, qualified and experienced professionals from overseas still hold the balance. Saudi’s Ministry of Civil Services has undertaken a huge campaign to encourage nationals with the relevant qualifications to step in and take over public sector positions, but it seems the push has been relatively unsuccessful, as has a parallel strategy intended to create new jobs for the Kingdom’s unemployed graduates. In an effort to reduce the number of expats working in the sector, a recent letter to the Ministry of Education’s head requested the removal of all non-Saudi teaching assistants and lecturers from faculty members’ classes, as this category is reserved for Saudi citizens.

However, across the Gulf States in general, it would seem the expat presence is diminishing due to increasing attempts to galvanise the local population into working for a living. Omanization seems be becoming more successful, as its average expat numbers fell recently by 25 per cent, with Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi also seeing similar reductions. However, it has to be said the majority of the expat exodus is composed of lower-waged workers rather than expat professionals, with the Gulf States dream still alive for those with the right qualifications and experience.