Arab News reports that the Saudi government has hired 210K Saudis over the past five years. That’s good and bad. The country needs to find jobs for about that number every year, but at least the government isn’t trying to offer full employment through hiring in its own offices. Too often, developing countries find themselves in a trap where the government, as employer of last resort, ends up paying the salaries of millions of non-productive employees. No work gets done, salaries aren’t high enough to keep the workers happy, but the national treasury keeps paying out.

210,000 Saudis get govt jobs

RIYADH: Government departments have employed 210,000 Saudi men and women during the past five years, said Civil Affairs Minister Muhammad Al-Fayez. He said there are 71,050 expatriates working in government institutions, including 51,057 medical professionals and 4,300 teachers.