Employment Rate of Newly Certified Healthcare Specialists in Saudi Arabia: A Survey-Based Study

Background This study aimed to assess and compare the employment rates of medical and dental specialists across different regions of Saudi Arabia from 2011 to 2019. Methodology With the aid of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, the national survey was sent via email to 12,000 healthcare postgraduates who obtained their board certificate within the period 2011-2019. It contained several questions regarding demographics, specialty, employment, satisfaction, and, finally, challenges and obstacles they faced during their job-seeking experience. Results Of the 723 respondents, almost 655 (90.7%) were employed. The employment rate of medical specialists (n = 605, 90.7%) was higher than dental specialists (n = 50, 89.3%). Nevertheless, 96% (n = 48) of dental employees were working at a specialty of their specified qualification, while only 93.7% (n = 562) of medical employees did. Regarding the month of their employment, the month of October (15.25%) had the highest employment rate for medical specialists; however, for a dental specialist, August (18%) had the highest employment rate. However, 64.5% of the respondents admitted that they faced challenges during their job-seeking experience, with few available positions being the most common obstacle for both medical and dental specialists. Conclusions Our survey confirms that medical and dental specialists in Saudi Arabia are facing delays in entering the workforce, which vary by region and specialty. It also sheds light on the reasons for these gaps, with limited job opportunities being a major issue for both groups. For career advancement, it is essential to identify these obstacles and develop a strategy to overcome them, such as involving the private sector.