Many thousands of new jobs will be generated in Saudi Arabia by 2015 as a result of a sharp increase in IT spending that has been forecast.

This is the prediction of Abdul Rahman Al-Ja'fari, governor of the kingdom's Communication and Information Technology Commission, who believes that as many as 30,000 new positions will be created over the next five years.

Expenditure on technology is forecast to jump by more than 50 per cent, from SR22 Billion to SR37 Billion.

Dr Al-Ja'fari was addressing a forum in Riyadh about the computing sector and he noted the rise in IT spending will create high levels of demand for skilled professionals to fill IT jobs in Saudi Arabia.

He pointed out there is a shortage of trained staff in the state, a trend that is likely to increase the coming years and needs to be addressed.

Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy and a population of around 28.7 million.

Posted by Alex Donnell