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BCG survey reveals critical issues plaguing Saudi youth
(MENAFN- Arab News) Today Saudi Arabia's young adults are facing major challenges that stifle their ability to live happier more fulfilled personal and professional lives according to a new report by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) entitled "What matters most to Saudi Arabia's youth."
Working with ComRes BCG a global management consulting firm and the world's major adviser on business strategy surveyed over 1000 Saudis aged 16-29 in the first quarter of 2014 and found that their top concerns included the high cost of living the shortage of affordable housing fear of crime and violence shortcomings in the education system and the scarcity of career opportunities.
The thorough analysis designed to understand the characteristics that distinguish young Saudis from their peers in other countries the level of their satisfaction with their lives and the concerns that are most important to them revealed that this particular generation is starkly shaped by Islam family and the Internet. In addition to outlining the difficulties faced by this growing youth segment the report also offers reforms and tailored solutions to be spearheaded by policymakers and business leaders to redress this situation.
'To improve the lives of young Saudis policymakers and business leaders must continue to formulate and communicate initiatives that will drive the greatest impact across a highly diverse population' said Joerg Hildebrandt a senior partner and MD at BCG and a co-author of the report. 'There is no archetype for Saudi youth. In our survey and discussions the young people we interviewed showed many attributes and expressed a wide range of worries many of which differed significantly by region.'
Nearly 60 percent of young Saudis ranked the high cost of living as one of their top three issues. Regional disparities are quite apparent respondents from the east and the south were more likely to cite this as a top concern than were those from the center. In the focus groups many young Saudis expressed fear that the high cost of living would limit their ability to marry and have children.
Overall 55 percent of respondents included the unavailability of affordable housing among their most prominent challenges. This is especially true in the east.
Crime appears to be of greater concern in the north and south where 66 percent and 70 percent respectively cited it among their most important issues. A regional breakdown of responses by crime-related topic shows that nearly six in ten respondents from the north expressed concerns about crime in general violent crime or theft. Road safety is also a concern for nearly half of respondents from the north. For respondents from the east south and west the main fears were war terrorism and riots.
Young Saudis consider the education system effective for teaching them about Islam and academic subjects. However they reported much lower levels of satisfaction with instruction in the soft skills for example problem solving teamwork and collaboration .
The study revealed that 43 percent of respondents from the north included career opportunities as a top concern versus 23 percent from the center.
In designing and communicating initiatives that address young people's concerns in Saudi Arabia policymakers should be guided by two principles the importance of communicating with all generations and enabling a two-way discussion using digital channels of communication.
'Communicating with all generations is essential given the importance of family hierarchies in shaping ambitions and life decisions' explained Mishary Alibraheem a consultant at BCG and a co-author of the report. 'Communications about reforms should target multiple generations using the channel most appropriate for each. Enabling a two-way discussion using digital channels of communication is also key.'
Working with ComRes BCG a global management consulting firm and the world's major adviser on business strategy surveyed over 1000 Saudis aged 16-29 in the first quarter of 2014 and found that their top concerns included the high cost of living the shortage of affordable housing fear of crime and violence shortcomings in the education system and the scarcity of career opportunities.
The thorough analysis designed to understand the characteristics that distinguish young Saudis from their peers in other countries the level of their satisfaction with their lives and the concerns that are most important to them revealed that this particular generation is starkly shaped by Islam family and the Internet. In addition to outlining the difficulties faced by this growing youth segment the report also offers reforms and tailored solutions to be spearheaded by policymakers and business leaders to redress this situation.
'To improve the lives of young Saudis policymakers and business leaders must continue to formulate and communicate initiatives that will drive the greatest impact across a highly diverse population' said Joerg Hildebrandt a senior partner and MD at BCG and a co-author of the report. 'There is no archetype for Saudi youth. In our survey and discussions the young people we interviewed showed many attributes and expressed a wide range of worries many of which differed significantly by region.'
Nearly 60 percent of young Saudis ranked the high cost of living as one of their top three issues. Regional disparities are quite apparent respondents from the east and the south were more likely to cite this as a top concern than were those from the center. In the focus groups many young Saudis expressed fear that the high cost of living would limit their ability to marry and have children.
Overall 55 percent of respondents included the unavailability of affordable housing among their most prominent challenges. This is especially true in the east.
Crime appears to be of greater concern in the north and south where 66 percent and 70 percent respectively cited it among their most important issues. A regional breakdown of responses by crime-related topic shows that nearly six in ten respondents from the north expressed concerns about crime in general violent crime or theft. Road safety is also a concern for nearly half of respondents from the north. For respondents from the east south and west the main fears were war terrorism and riots.
Young Saudis consider the education system effective for teaching them about Islam and academic subjects. However they reported much lower levels of satisfaction with instruction in the soft skills for example problem solving teamwork and collaboration .
The study revealed that 43 percent of respondents from the north included career opportunities as a top concern versus 23 percent from the center.
In designing and communicating initiatives that address young people's concerns in Saudi Arabia policymakers should be guided by two principles the importance of communicating with all generations and enabling a two-way discussion using digital channels of communication.
'Communicating with all generations is essential given the importance of family hierarchies in shaping ambitions and life decisions' explained Mishary Alibraheem a consultant at BCG and a co-author of the report. 'Communications about reforms should target multiple generations using the channel most appropriate for each. Enabling a two-way discussion using digital channels of communication is also key.'
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