Local versus Foreign Worker Perceptions, Commitment and Attitudes toward Careers in Restaurants and Cafés: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) heavily relies on expatriates to meet the needs their labor market, especially in private sector. Nonetheless, reduce increasing rate unemployment government has recently implemented a new Saudization quota restaurants/cafés. policy aims replace foreign workers with up 50% locals. This research takes first attempt examine perceptions, commitment, and attitudes local workers, who newly joined this career after October 2021, versus toward careers A quantitative approach was used, including self-administered questionnaire for sample 408 455 random results showed statistically significant differences between relation nature work, perceived social status, working conditions, development, relationship managers co-workers commitment Despite having higher education experience comparison counterparts, they received less compensation, albeit have positive attitudes, negative restaurants cafés held by several implications scholars practitioners restaurant business. It is crucial that KSA recognize heterogeneity restaurant/café quota, proper management human assets sustainable performance.