Saudi Arabia's new industrial cities to create 2.1 million jobs by 2020
BY HABIB SHAIKH
JEDDAH — The new industrial cities being built in Tabuk, Hail, the Eastern Province, Madinah, Rabigh and Jizan will create a total of 2.1 million job opportunities over the period between 2010 and 2020, according to Abdul Wahid Al Homaid, undersecretary for planning and development at the ministry of labour.
"Out of a total of 1.3 million new permanent jobs in these cities, 170,000 jobs would require skilled workers, 675,000 would be for semi-skilled and 455,000 would need only a low level of skill," Abdul Wahid said while presenting a paper at a seminar organised by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently.
He added that 870,000 temporary jobs required in 2010 in the general construction sector would gradually fall to 260,000 jobs by 2020.
Meanwhile, according to Dr. John Sfakianakis, chief economist of SAAB, the development of four economic cities in the Kingdom should proceed according to a phased plan to offset any negative impact as a result of hastening the pace of the projects.
He was reported as saying that the government would have to work out the projects schedule in consultation with contractors, since they will need 1.3 million skilled and unskilled manpower when the projects are scheduled to be completed by 2020. They should also look into the demand and supply situation concerning the various sectors to avoid any adverse impact.
"If these mega projects are undertaken at the same time, there will be a huge demand for labour that will create bottlenecks in the economy, which the economy will not be able to cope with. So the issue now is the pace of development vis-à-vis the manpower supply. The mega projects could be implemented at the same time, but the pace will have to be adjusted. Otherwise, the cost of production could go up," he explained.
Regarding the scheduling of the mega projects for the economic cities, informed sources said there is no definite timeline for them, since there is no separate authority similar to the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu to act in a coordinated manner.
A cross-section of expatriates from south and southeast Asia favour reviewing the existing salary structure to make employment opportunities in the Kingdom an attractive proposition.
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A lot of permanent jobs are being created at all skill levels, that is just a win-win situation for that country and it's people.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Gerbil administration just emphasizes getting an education to get a job. We have a lot of educated people here that are not making good money, or can't find a job, just look at what happens when our graduates get out every May.
Saudi Arabia is not stupid. They are probably starting to plan ahead for when the oil runs dry. The jobs would be a win-win for Germany and the rest of Western Europe who want to shed their Muslim immigrants, and the countries from which job seekers emigrate.
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