VOL. XLIII

No. 21

22-May-2000

SAUDI ARABIA

Demographic Transitions In Saudi Arabia And Their Impact On Economic Growth And The Labor Market

by Sa'idal-Shaikh

The following is the text of an article on Saudi demography and the labor market by Sa'idal-Shaikh, Chief Economist, National Commercial Bank, published in the NCB Economist, 1Q 2000.

Introduction

Three decades ago, the Saudi labor force was characterized by high illiteracy and the near absence of qualified manpower. With the lack of basic...