Saudi Arabia's unemployment reaches 30 percent

Saudi Arabia has put out into actual implementation a decision yesterday which bans recruiting foreigners in Jewelry shops in the kingdom with the objective of ensuring job opportunities for its citizens, as unemployment rate in the kingdom reached 30%.

This decision, however, includes 6,000 Jewelry shops which employ 50,000 persons, expected to create 20,000 job opportunities for the Saudis.

This decision was taken in the year 2000 by the minister of the interior Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz.

Unemployment rate in this country which is the first ranking oil producing country, has been continuously increasing. An unofficial study issued yesterday estimated this increase at 30% of the Saudis eligible to work. Saudi Arabia's population tolls 22 million including 7 million foreigners.