According to recent research conducted by YouGov, an international Internet-based market research and data analytics firm, around 52 percent of recruiters in Saudi Arabia today believe that gender diversity leads to higher productivity and around 40 percent also believe that diversity in the workplace cultivates a culture of creativity. The research surveyed 300 Saudi women and 300 recruiters.
Although the results of the survey have been positive, recruiters claim that the challenge on the ground to find top female talent still remains. However, according to Saudi Gazette, more than half of the women recently surveyed for a LinkedIn research believe this to be a myth and 37 percent of women believe employers still need to do more to hire them in key roles.
In fact, the news site states that LinkedIn profiles in the Kingdom show that 63 percent of Saudi women have undergraduate degrees, exceeding several countries including the United States, where 57 percent of women have undergraduate degrees. In addition, more than 17 percent of Saudi women hold a master’s degree compared to 19 percent in the United States. The top industries for female professionals in the Kingdom are healthcare, education, corporate services, finance, software, and IT services.
“Speaking to Saudi women, we found that they felt they were missing out on opportunities as their potential was not clearly visible. They were seen as unequipped and felt unsupported,” said Reem Mohamed, head of public sector for Saudi Arabia at LinkedIn, that launched the “Hear It From Me” campaign to help increase women’s participation in the workforce.
“Employers need to promote a culture of diversity and start taking action toward finding top female talent and providing them with the best opportunities that fit their skills. By bringing both sides together the narrative can start to change, and the Kingdom can thrive by creating a more productive and creative workforce,” she told the news site.
