JEDDAH: A massive 75 percent of Saudis prefer to work in the public sector compared to just 19 percent who show interest opting for private sector jobs, according to a survey conducted by Gallup.

The Gallup survey, as quoted by an online newspaper, said if Saudi women get an option 78 percent of them will also opt for government jobs.

“The overall preference among Saudi nationals for employment in the government sector is not new. Saudi citizens in the labor force have long expected — and felt guaranteed — a secure job in the government sector,” said the Gallop analysis.

The Nitaqat employment policy of the Kingdom now requires companies to hire anywhere from 19 percent to 100 percent Saudi workers, depending on the industry sector, it said.

The survey was conducted by Gallup on 2,500 Saudis of over 15 years of age between 2013 and 2015.

The Saudi government is hoping to convince unemployed Saudis to seek jobs in the private sector. The ultimate aim is to break away from the seemingly perpetual 90/90 employment gridlock, where about 90 percent of Saudis are employed by the government and 90 percent of the jobs in the private sector are filled by about 7 million Arab and non-Arab expatriates, said Gallup.