Influence of the social and economic characteristics of Saudi women on their attitudes toward empowering them in online labor market

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the attitudes of Saudi women toward empowering them in the online labor market and study the impact of the social and economic characteristics on their attitudes toward empowering. The study adopted a survey approach, the questionnaire was distributed online to a number of private companies of the women’s sectors at Hail city. The responses in the questionnaire was 262. The study discovered that Saudi women’s have positive attitudes toward their empowerment. It was found that there is no statistically correlation between Methods of empowering women online in KSA and social characteristics. It was found that marriage is the most important social factor that contributes to encouraging women to empower in the online labor market. It was found that high-income women are the most used group to work online, as it is an ideal and effective environment for them for achievements and successes.

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Influence of the social and economic
characteristics of Saudi women on their attitudes
toward empowering them in online labor market
Saud N. Alshmery , Hind R. Alqirnas & Muna I. Alyuosef
To cite this article: Saud N. Alshmery , Hind R. Alqirnas & Muna I. Alyuosef (2021):
Influence of the social and economic characteristics of Saudi women on their attitudes toward
empowering them in online labor market, Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, DOI:
10.1080/20430795.2021.1874216
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/20430795.2021.1874216
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Influence of the social and economic characteristics of Saudi
women on their attitudes toward empowering them in online
labor market
Saud N. Alshmery
a
, Hind R. Alqirnas
b
and Muna I. Alyuosef
c
a
Department of Educational Fundamentals, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia;
b
Educational Technology,
University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia;
c
Human Resources Management, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
ABSTRACT
The study aims to investigate the attitudes of Saudi women toward
empowering them in the online labor market and study the impact
of the social and economic characteristics on their attitudes toward
empowering. The study adopted a survey approach, the
questionnaire was distributed online to a number of private
companies of the women’s sectors at Hail city. The responses in
the questionnaire was 262. The study discovered that Saudi
women’s have positive attitudes toward their empowerment. It
was found that there is no statistically correlation between
Methods of empowering women online in KSA and social
characteristics. It was found that marriage is the most important
social factor that contributes to encouraging women to empower
in the online labor market. It was found that high-income women
are the most used group to work online, as it is an ideal and
effective environment for them for achievements and successes.
ARTICLE HISTORY
Received 2 December 2020
Accepted 7 January 2021
KEYWORDS
Empowerment of women;
online labor market; social
and economic characteristics
1. Introduction
All countries of the world are interested in working to encourage women to partici-
pate in development processes in various fields, especially in economic and social
fields because of their great importance in achieving sustainable development goals
that all countries seek to achieve and maintain their growth rates in order to reach
the desired goals of the development process (Mehta and Sharma 2014; Alhayani
2020) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considered one of the countries that seek to
achieve the full participation of women in development processes through the King-
dom’s Vision 2030, which aims to achieve economic empowerment of women and
increase their participation in all areas of life in a manner that achieves the goals
that the Kingdom seeks to achieve, and the Kingdom makes many efforts To
achieve the empowerment of women in the labor market in general and in the
labor market via the Internet in particular, in order to achieve the Kingdom’s 2030
vision that is consistent with Islamic values and with all Saudi social traditions and
values.
© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
CONTACT Saud N. Alshmery suadsham8919@gmail.com Department of Educational Fundamentals, University of
Hail, Hail –KSA, Hail 55211, Saudi Arabia
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE FINANCE & INVESTMENT
https://doi.org/10.1080/20430795.2021.1874216

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia seeks to develop educational programs and raise the
level of awareness of Saudi citizens of the importance of women’s participation in all
areas of social, economic and political life through holding seminars and conferences
that clarify the importance of Saudi women’s participation in the development process
(Khyareh 2020; Ibrahem, Alamr 2020; Ibrahem 2021).
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is interested in encouraging socio-economic and social
institutions to provide all the possibilities through which it is possible to raise the social
and economic levels of Saudi women and increase their scientific and professional skills
and capabilities, which qualify them to enter the labor market efficiently and effectively
and increase the opportunities for economic empowerment of women and increase their
contribution to economic activities and increase rates The economic growth required to
be achieved enables the Kingdom to reach all the goals pursued by the Kingdom’s Vision
2030 (Hasin 2018; Alhayani and Rane 2014).
1.1. Research objectives
.To explore Saudi women’s attitudes toward their empowerment in online labor
market.
.To explore the influence of their social characteristics on their attitudes toward their
empowerment in online labor market.
.To explore the influence of their economic characteristics on their attitudes toward
their empowerment in online labor market.
2. Literature review
In the recent years, there has been a remarkable progress in industrial and technological
evolution, which caused not only a change in individuals’lives, but also in the nature and
characteristics of their work. Technology and internet revolution has contributed to
giving workers an opportunity to work without the need to go to the physical site of
work. Therefore, the concept of online labor market has emerged in a way that allows
workers around the world to work remotely (Horton 2010). Online labor market is
described by Eurofound and International Labour Organization (2017) as the use of
information and communication technology for work purposes outside the main office
or production sites.
According to Alfilali (2007), online labor market was implemented in the last decade
in the United States of America so as to facilitate the work process for workers, especially
those who work from different regions, where their tasks can be performed remotely any-
where technology is available. Askar (2014), Ibrahem & Alamro (2021), Ibrahem
(2021) added that the online labor market has spread not only in developed countries,
but also in developing countries such as South Africa, Bangladesh and Mexico in
order to provide citizens with new job opportunities, and facilitate global communication
between business owners and workers easily through technology. In Saudi Arabia, there
is a noticeable development in information and communication technology in the last
few years, which led to an increase in the demand of the phenomenon of online labor
2S. N. ALSHMERY ET AL.

market (Askar 2014; Shamlawi 2019). He argued that the use of the internet in Saudi
Arabia context greatly facilitated the communication between institutions and individ-
uals nationally and worldwide.
Many features encourage countries around the world, especially the developing
countries, to go toward the online work instead of traditional work environment.
Firstly, Hartung (2015) argued that working from home either online or any another
way helps workers to be more independence. This means that workers who work remo-
tely, via internet for example, would increase their sense of control and responsibility
toward their work, which encourages them to work effectively. She added that, secondly,
there is a kind of interruptions that workers face in workplace due to co-workers whose
impede workers’ability to the work productivity. Thus, working online offers workers
the ability to manage their time and work comfortably. Tunyaolin, Lunce and Maniam
(1998), confirmed that productivity of employee increases around 30% when they
work online compared to workplace that creates an atmosphere of disturbance.
Thirdly, working online reduces travel time and stress faced by workers in order to
meet the requirement of their work. In fact, workers sometimes need to commute to
and from their workplace daily, which might cause physical and mental stress. So,
working online can be seen as an ideal solution that affects the quality of work among
workers positively. On the other hand, online work has several disadvantages such as iso-
lation and lack of belonging. For example, Feldman and Gainey (1997), and Alhayani and
Ilhan (2020a) found that workers prefer to work at the physical work sites rather than
remotely from home because it creates challenging group experiences among them,
which leads to an increase in the work effectiveness in the work place according to
Feldman and Gainley. Another concern that might face workers in the online work
environment is a lack of professional support and career advancement. Lack of inter-
action between workers and co-workers is a main aspect that could hinder their ability
to be advanced in the work. Workers see work remotely as a non-interactive environment
because it does not allow direct interaction as face-to-face among them, which could lead
to losing training chances.
Askar (2014), and Meshri, Munther (2020) stated that the ‘future revolution in the
labor market’contributes to increasing the number of institutions that provide individ-
uals with this new type of jobs that allow them to work remotely. He added that this kind
of work seems to have a great benefit for women globally and Saudi women in particular,
because it gives them an opportunity to work and take care of their families at the same
time. In 2009, the council of ministers approved the work of Saudi women remotely
(from home). This decision contributed to a significant reduction in unemployment
among Saudi women. The Saudi Ministry of Labor announced the establishment of
‘Hadaf’program that focuses on women and people with special needs in order to
take advantage of their capabilities and employ them in the appropriate place, through
using information and communication technology (The ministry of labor and social
development 2012; Khalaf et al. 2020,2020b).
2.1. Women empowering in the online labor market in Saudi Arabia
Information and communication technologies have played a vital role in economic
growth, poverty elimination, and agricultural, industrial and social development. They
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE FINANCE & INVESTMENT 3

also give new chances for human development and women’s empowerment in different
fields (Shalhoub 2017; Suresh 2011). Nikulin (2017) clarified that these technologies
greatly contribute to women’s empowerment in the labor market. Orabi, Wason and
Bekeet (2019) and Njelekela and Sanga (2015), Khalaf et al. (2020) confirmed that
there is a strong relationship between technology and women’s empowerment in labor
market, which contributes to creating significant job opportunities and flexibility in
work among women.
Regarding the concept of ‘empowerment’, Barker (2003) argued that the first emer-
gence of empowerment was from early times in social service in order to protect vulner-
able individuals from groups of individuals who have power in society. Alsop and
Heinsohn (2005) describe it as ‘enhancing an individual’s or group’s capacity to make
choices and transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes’. They added
that the empowerment mainly focuses on children, women and people with special
needs who might not be able to make their decisions, due to their fear from those
groups who have more power over them. Seitov (2020), Yogendrarajah and Semasinghe
(2013) stated that empowering women, in all fields, aims to enhance women’personal
strength that leads to develop the level of lives; give them a chance to participate in
decision-making, and increase their own self-reliance.
The women’s empowerment in labor market not only contributes to economic devel-
opment in the country, but also leads to gender equality and helps to uplift society.
Lakshmi et al. (2013) and Subahi et al. (2021) conducted a study about the role of microfi-
nance in the empowerment of women and they found that the main reason of country
development, reducing poverty and enhancing family productivity is the women empow-
erment. However, Mehtap et al. (2016) stated that women empowerment in labor market
is still relatively low around the world, and particularly in the Middle East. They added
that it attributed to a number of social and economic reasons that affect their empower-
ment negatively.
Although Arab women might face difficulties in empowerment in labor market,
because of patriarchal dominance in society, lack of spousal consent or religious restric-
tions (Mcloughlin 2013), Saudi government has taken great care in strengthening the role
of women in the country and empowering them socially, economically, politically and
educationally and legally. SMT studies center (2019) stated that the percentage of
Saudi women workforce in 2017 is approximately 6% in the private sector, and 40% in
the public sector. However, the number of Saudi women workforce has increased signifi-
cantly in the recent years. Today, Saudi women have become not only teachers, but also
be physicians, lawyers, journalists and businesswomen. Saudi government encourages
women strongly to work in sectors of the ministry of interior such as passports, drug
control and traffic control department (Pereira, 2020; Almezar 2017). SMT studies
center (2019) added that the Saudi Vision 2030 is a new plan seeking further to
empower Saudi women in the labor market by adopting many initiatives and programs
such as online working initiative. It is a national initiative that aims to provide a suitable
work environment for each employer and contribute to raising the participation of
women in the labor market, and providing individuals with flexible working hours
that are suitable for their family circumstances.
According to Choudhury (2009), Khyareh (2020), Alhayani and Abdallah (2020)
women empowering in the online labor market not only brings qualitative changes to
4S. N. ALSHMERY ET AL.

one’s lives, but also seems to be a very effective element in work field because firstly, it
allows women to be independent (Golzard 2019; Misawi 2020). Secondly, online labor
market put freedom into each woman’s hand, and particularly married woman who
still has to bear the burden of home and family (Spinello 2003). Thirdly, it helps creating
collaboration and sharing of experiences and skills, thereby leading to increase their
empowerment in labor market (Golzard 2019). Nikulin (2017) argued that there are
several factors that could influence participation of women in labor force. Education is
a very important factor that influences participation of women in the labor market.
For example, when women are educated, they become open to new ideas and get new
skills, thereby it encourages them to get involved in the labor market more confidently
and allows them to support economic development in the country (Mehtap et al.
2016). Moreover, they stated that economic factor influences participation of women
in labor market. They explained that limiting access to capital and finance, ability to
make decisions regarding the utilization of money and the gender pay gap are all
factors affect participation of women in labor market negatively. Marriage, age, popu-
lation and women’s role outside the household are social factors that affect participation
of women in labor market. Rashoud (2016) conducted a study on the relationship
between economic and social aspects and the women’s participation rates in the labor
market, and he found that the Saudi women in labor market increased from 15% in
1999 to 22% in 2015, explaining population growth is the key factor in increasing the
Saudi women in labor market. Although many research conducted to study women
and their empowerment in labor market, there is still a lack of research of empowerment
of women in online labor market particularly in developing countries such as Saudi
Arabia that aims to empower women under the umbrella of 2030 vision. In addition,
there is a need to investigate the influence of the social and economic characteristics
of Saudi women on their attitudes toward empowering them in online labor market.
The current study seeks to answer the key question pursued here are:
.What are the Saudi women’s attitudes toward their empowerment in online labor
market?
In addition to three hypotheses are tested:
H1: There is a significant correlation between methods of empowering women online in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and social and economic characteristics.
H2: There is a significant difference in social and economic effects between groups based on
social characteristics.
H3: There is a significant difference in social and economic effects between groups based on
economic characteristics.
3. Methodology
As the current study is a quantitative in the nature, questionnaire was designed to meet
the purposes of the study. The questionnaire consists of three sections: The first section
collects information about the social characteristics of Saudi women, designed with
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE FINANCE & INVESTMENT 5

multiple choices. The second section collects information about economic characteristics
of Saudi women, designed with multiple choices. The third section contains two parts:
The first part collects information about Saudi women empowerment methods, designed
with multiple choices and the second part is the scale-measuring women empowering in
the online labor market in Saudi Arabia, consisting of items, which was divided into two
sub-sections: social characteristics has14 items and economic characteristics has 11
items. In this scale respondents state their agreement or disagreement with the items
according to a Likert scale arranged from strongly disagree to strongly agree.
The questionnaire was distributed online to a number of private companies of the
women’s sectors at Hail city. The number of responses in the questionnaire was 262.
3.1. Findings
The coefficient alpha reliabilities were .953 for the total scale and .929 and .947 for social
effects and economic effects, respectively. Thus, I can be confident of the credibility of the
instrument in achieving the objectives of the study (see Table 1). In addition, in order to
make sure of the validity, the questionnaire had checked and reviewed by experts in our
institution.
3.2. Demographic characteristics
They were summarized for the sample overall using descriptive statistics. Descriptive
statistical analyses of means, standard deviations, and percentages were used. Because
the data were not normally distributed, A nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test was used
to compare the two mean social and economic effect dimension scores by Demographic
characteristics and also were used as a *post hoc* procedure following rejection of a null
hypothesis. Chi-square test was used to assess the relationship between Methods of
empowering women online and social and economic characteristics.
Table 2 shows 35.8% were in their age (31–35) out of 260 participants followed by (26–
30) (28.8%), 68.5% married and 35.8% had children more than three. 32.3% of partici-
pants were encouraged to seek work due to culture and social needs and 39.2%–38.5%
were their wages equal and moderate, respectively. The percentage of participants
who supported responsible was husband 50.0%, and 41.9% of participants’wages was
fair.
3.3. Descriptive analysis
It is used to answer the research question: What are the Saudi women’s attitudes toward
their empowerment in online labor market?
Table 1. Reliability statistics.
Dimension No. of items Cronbach’s alpha
Benefits 14 0.929
Barriers 11 0.947
All 25 0.953
6S. N. ALSHMERY ET AL.

Data, regarding social effects of woman empowerment, were collected from the ques-
tionnaire. Participants reported the social effects of woman empowerment using a 5-
point Likert-type scale range from Strongly Disagree = 1, Disagree = 2, Neutral = 3,
Agree = 4, and Strongly Agree = 5. Descriptive statistical analysis of means, standard
deviations, and percentages were used to analyze this question.
The mean of the level of social effects was ranked from the most effect to the least effect
from the participants’point of view. As shown in Table 3, the most effect thing was
(Online labor market is useful in caring for children in the case of married women)
(M= 4.03) in which 81.9% of the participants either strongly agreed or agreed on this
statement. The second thing was (I can make decisions by myself on most occasions)
(M= 4.00) in which 78.8% of the participants either strongly agreed or agreed on this
statement. The final thing was (I do not have the self-confidence to participate in
social activities) (M= 1.95) in which 85.0% of the participants either strongly agreed
or agreed on this statement. Overall mean (M= 3.44) in which 61.6% of the participants
either strongly agreed or agreed on social effects.
Table 2. Characteristics of sample.
Variable N(%)
Social characteristics
Age
18–25 11 (4.2)
26–30 75 (28.8)
31–35 93 (35.8)
36–40 62 (23.8)
41–55 19 (7.3)
Status
Married 178 (68.5)
Single 52 (20.0)
Divorced 26 (10.0)
Widowed 4 (1.5)
No. of children
None 73 (28.1)
One child 32 (12.3)
Two children 41 (15.8)
Three children 21 (8.1)
>Three children 93 (35.8)
Economic characteristics
Encouraging factors
Culture and social needs 84 (32.3)
Support my family 41 (15.8)
Personal financial needs 108 (41.6)
Support the economy 8 (3.1)
For leisure time 19 (7.3)
Wage
Low wage 52 (20.0)
Moderate wage 100 (38.5)
High wage 6 (2.3)
Equal 102 (39.2)
Support responsible
Husband 130 (50.0)
Father 57 (21.9)
Myself 50 (19.2)
Share 23 (8.8)
Sufficiency of wages
Not enough 78 (30.0)
Sufficient 73 (28.1)
Good 109 (41.9)
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE FINANCE & INVESTMENT 7

Data, regarding economic effects of woman empowerment, were collected from the
questionnaire. Participants reported the economic effects of woman empowerment
using a 5-point Likert-type scale range from Strongly Disagree = 1, Disagree = 2, Neutral
= 3, Agree = 4, and Strongly Agree = 5. Descriptive statistical analysis of means, standard
deviations, and percentages were used to analyze this question.
The mean of the level of economic effects was ranked from the most effect to the least
effect from the participants’point of view. As shown in Table 4, the most effect thing was
(I believe that empowering women increases the dependence of women on themselves)
(M= 4.29) in which 91.6% of the participants either strongly agreed or agreed on this
statement. The second thing was (I believe that empowering women will reduce
foreign workers.) (M= 4.08) in which 85.4% of the participants either strongly agreed
or agreed on this statement. The final thing was (I feel empowering women in online
labor market may increase consumer awareness of individuals) (M= 3.8) in which
67.0% of the participants either strongly agreed or agreed on this statement. Overall
mean (M= 3.94) in which 75.8% of the participants either strongly agreed or agreed
on economic effects.
3.4. Testing hypotheses
There is a significant correlation between methods of empowering women online in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and social and economic characteristics.
The Chi-Square test revealed that there was no statistically correlation (p> 0.05)
between Methods of empowering women online in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and
social characteristics (see Table 5)
Table 3. Percentages, means and standard deviation for items of social effects.
SD
%D%
NE
%
AG
%
SA
% M (Std.D) Rank
Online labor market reduces family breakdown 9.6 12.3 21.2 39.2 17.7 3.43 (1.195) 8
I always motivate other women to participate in social work. 1.2 4.2 18.8 54.6 21.2 3.90 (0.816) 3
I do not have the self-confidence to participate in social
activities.
1.2 8.1 15.8 35.0 40.0 1.95 (0.993) 14
Online labor market reduces divorce rates and spinsterhood
issues.
9.6 14.2 28.1 33.8 14.2 3.29 (1.165) 12
Working from home is better for women. 10.8 18.8 17.7 33.1 19.6 3.32 (1.280) 11
Online labor market may reduce social phenomena beyond
the customs of society.
8.5 17.7 24.2 30.4 19.2 3.34 (1.215) 10
Online labor market reduces moral crime. 12.3 13.1 23.8 29.2 21.5 3.35 (1.290) 9
I can make decisions by myself on most occasions. 3.1 5.0 13.1 46.9 31.9 4.00 (0.965) 2
I participate in any work with my family without any
discrimination between males and females.
2.3 9.6 13.1 49.6 25.4 3.86 (0.981) 4
Online labor market is useful in caring for children in the
case of married women.
2.3 7.3 8.5 48.8 33.1 4.03 (0.958) 1
Online labor market reduces many problems and difficulties
that may face me in my work.
4.2 10.8 31.5 34.2 19.2 3.53 (1.052) 7
Online labor market contributes to increase women’s
culture and technology education.
3.8 10.0 20.4 41.2 24.6 3.73 (1.061) 5
I feel that being a housewife is better than leaving the
house to earn.
19.2 28.5 16.5 23.8 11.9 2.81 (1.319) 13
Online labor market helps women to be more independent. 5.4 8.1 23.5 39.2 23.8 3.68 (1.088) 6
Total 6.7 12 19.7 38.5 23.1 3.44 (0.667)
Note: Std.D. = Standard Deviation, M = Mean, SD = Strongly Disagree, D = Disagree, NE = Neutral, AG = Agree, SA =
Strongly Agree.
8S. N. ALSHMERY ET AL.

The Chi-Square test revealed that there was no statistically correlation (p> 0.05)
between Methods of empowering women online in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and
economic characteristics (see Table 6).
Table 4. Percentages, Means and standard deviation for items of economic effects.
Items
SD
%
D
%
NE
%
AG
%
SA
% M (Std.D) Rank
I believe that empowering women will reduce foreign
workers.
0.8 3.1 10.8 58.1 27.3 4.08 (0.754) 2
I consider empowering women in online labor market is in
line with the orientations of the Kingdom’s vision to localize
businesses.
1.2 5.4 14.6 54.6 24.2 3.95 (0.842) 4
I feel empowering women in online labor market may
increase the economic well-being of Saudi families.
1.9 4.6 17.7 53.8 21.9 3.89 (0.863) 6
I believe that empowering women increases the dependence
of women on themselves.
0.8 3.1 4.6 51.2 40.4 4.29 (0.728) 1
I believe that empowering women in online labor market
may open up export domains.
1.6 3.8 26.2 48.5 20.0 3.83 (0.833) 9
I believe that empowering women in online labor market
may increase self-sufficiency in Saudi society.
0.4 6.5 16.2 53.1 23.8 3.93 (0.833) 5
I feel empowering women in online labor market may
increase the educational level of society.
0.4 5.4 17.3 49.6 27.3 3.98 (0.836) 3
I feel empowering women in online labor market may
increase consumer awareness of individuals.
1.6 5.4 26.2 46.2 20.8 3.8 (0.869) 11
Online labor market gives me a great opportunity to
empowerment.
1.2 5.4 20.0 50.0 23.5 3.89 (0.863) 7
Online labor market stimulates women to work effectively. 0.4 6.9 20.4 48.1 24.2 3.89 (0.865) 8
Online labor market gives women opportunities to be more
creative in their field.
1.5 9.6 21.9 39.2 27.7 3.82 (0.995) 10
Total 1 5.4 17.8 50.2 25.6 3.94 (0.638)
Note: Std.D. = Standard Deviation, M = Mean, SD = Strongly Disagree, D = Disagree, NE = Neutral, AG = Agree, SA =
Strongly Agree.
Table 5. Chi-square test of independence for methods of empowering women online and social
characteristics.
A
N(%)
B
N(%)
C
N(%)
D
N(%)
E
N(%)
F
N(%)
x
2(P)
Age
18–25 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 6 (54.5) 0 (0.0) 1 (9.1) 4 (36.4) 26.538 (0.149)
26–30 6 (8.0) 10 (13.3) 27 (36.0) 4 (5.3) 13 (17.3) 15 (20.0)
31–35 6 (6.5) 22 (23.7) 34 (36.6) 6 (6.5) 10 (10.8) 15 (16.1)
36–40 8 (12.9) 15 (24.2) 20 (32.3) 2 (3.2) 4 (6.5) 13 (21.0)
41–55 4 (21.1) 2 (10.5) 3 (15.8) 0 (0.0) 5 (26.3) 5 (26.3)
Status
Married 18 (10.1) 33 (18.5) 54 (30.3) 9 (5.1) 21 (11.8) 43 (24.2) 16.404 (0.356)
Single 5 (9.6) 8 (15.4) 21 (40.4) 1 (1.9) 9 (17.3) 8 (15.4)
Divorced 1 (3.8) 7 (26.9) 12 (46.2) 2 (7.7) 3 (11.5) 1 (3.8)
Widowed 0 (0.0) 1 (25.0) 3 (75.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0)
No. of children
None 7 (9.6) 11 (15.1) 26 (35.6) 3 (4.1) 12 (16.4) 14 (19.2) 15.357 (0.756)
One child 1 (3.1) 5 (15.1) 14 (43.8) 1 (3.1) 5 (15.1) 6 (18.8)
Two children 1 (2.4) 11 (26.8) 17 (41.5) 2 (4.9) 5 (12.2) 5 (12.2)
Three children 3 (14.3) 3 (14.3) 7 (33.3) 1 (4.8) 1 (4.8) 6 (28.6)
More than three children 12 (12.9) 19 (20.4) 26 (28.0) 5 (5.4) 10 (10.8) 21 (22.6)
Note: A = Online transformative training, B = Offering professional diplomas specialized in preparing women to work
online, C = Motivating companies to empower women to work online, D = Caring for women entrepreneurs in the
field of teleworking, E = Create telemarketing platforms and products, F = Connecting online work environments with
new and renewed fields.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE FINANCE & INVESTMENT 9

There is a significant difference in social and economic effects between groups based
on social characteristics.
The Kruskal–Wallis test revealed that there were statistically significant differences (p
= 0.029) in the social effects based on the participants’status (see Table 6). A Kruskal–
Wallis post hoc test (Bonferroni correction for multiple tests) was used to determine
which status group is significantly different from other groups. The results revealed
that the rank mean for status group of single (MR = 103.8) was significantly lower
than status group of married (MR = 136.8), as represented in Table 7.
From the same table the Kruskal–Wallis test revealed that there were statistically sig-
nificant differences (p= 0.001) in the economic effects based on the participants’status. A
Kruskal–Wallis post hoc test (Bonferroni correction for multiple tests) was used to deter-
mine which status group is significantly different from other groups. The results revealed
that the rank mean for status group of single (MR = 108.9) was significantly lower than
status group of married (MR = 130.9)
There is a significant difference in social and economic effects between groups based
on economic characteristics.
The Kruskal–Wallis test revealed that there were statistically significant differences (p=
0.002) in the social effects based on the participants’wages (see Table 8). A Kruskal–Wallis
post hoc test (Bonferroni correction for multiple tests) was used to determine which wage
group is significantly different from other groups. The results revealed that the rank mean
for wage group of moderate (MR =114.8) was significantly lower than wage group of equal
(MR = 146.0) and high wage (MR = 200.2), as represented in Table 8.
From the same table, the Kruskal–Wallis test revealed that there were statistically sig-
nificant differences (p= 0.001) in the economic effects based on the participants’wage. A
Table 6. Chi-square test of independence for methods of empowering women online and economic
characteristics.
A
N(%)
B
N(%)
C
N(%)
D
N(%)
E
N(%)
F
N(%) x2(P)
Encouraging factors
Culture and social needs 9 (10.7) 16 (19.0) 25 (29.8) 2 (2.4) 10 (11.9) 22 (26.2) 29.612 (0.076)
Support my family 5 (12.2) 2 (4.9) 20 (48.8) 3 (7.3) 5 (12.2) 6 (14.6)
Personal financial needs 8 (7.4) 23 (21.3) 39 (36.1) 3 (2.8) 15 (13.9) 20 (18.5)
Support the economy 0 (0.0) 3 (37.5) 3 (37.5) 2 (25.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0)
For leisure time 2 (10.5) 5 (26.3) 3 (15.8) 2 (10.5) 3 (15.8) 4 (21.1)
Wage
Low wage 3 (5.8) 10 (19.2) 19 (36.5) 3 (5.8) 7 (13.5) 10 (19.2) 10.218 (0.806)
Moderate wage 8 (8.0) 21 (21.0) 34 (34.0) 5 (5.0) 12 (12.0) 20 (20.0)
High wage 0 (0.0) 1 (16.7) 4 (66.7) 1 (16.7) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0)
Equal 13 (12.7) 17 (16.7) 33 (32.4) 3 (2.9) 14 (13.7) 22 (21.6)
Support responsible
Husband 12 (9.2) 29 (22.3) 43 (33.1) 5 (3.8) 13 (10.0) 28 (21.5) 17.231 (0.305)
Father 6 (10.5) 5 (8.8) 23 (40.4) 3 (5.3) 10 (17.5) 10 (17.5)
Myself 4 (8.0) 10 (20.0) 20 (40.0) 3 (6.0) 8 (16.0) 5 (10.0)
Share 2 (8.7) 5 (21.7) 4 (17.4) 1 (4.3) 2 (8.7) 9 (39.1)
Sufficiency of wages
Not enough 11 (14.1) 20 (25.6) 25 (32.1) 4 (5.1) 8 (10.3) 10 (12.8) 16.755 (0.080)
Sufficient 10 (13.7) 10 (13.7) 23 (31.5) 4 (5.5) 11 (15.1) 15 (20.5)
Good 3 (2.8) 19 (17.4) 42 (38.5) 4 (3.7) 14 (12.8) 27 (24.8)
Note: A = Online transformative training, B = Offering professional diplomas specialized in preparing women to work
online, C = Motivating companies to empower women to work online, D = Caring for women entrepreneurs in the
field of teleworking, E = Create telemarketing platforms and products, F = Connecting online work environments with
new and renewed fields.
10 S. N. ALSHMERY ET AL.

Kruskal–Wallis post hoc test (Bonferroni correction for multiple tests) was used to deter-
mine which wage group is significantly different from other groups. The results revealed
that the rank mean for wage group of high (MR = 229.2) was significantly higher than
wage group of low (MR = 119.7), moderate (MR = 118.0) and equal (MR = 142.5), as rep-
resented in Table 8.
Table 7. Kruskal–Wallis test for revealing the differences in social and economic effects between
groups based on social characteristics.
Variable
Social effects Economic effects
M(Std.D.) MR Kruskal–Wallis (P)M(Std.D.) MR Kruskal–Wallis (P)
Age
18–25 3.14 (0.47) 87.0 8.780 .067 3.78 (0.59) 106.0 2.224 .695
26–30 3.35 (0.65) 118.2 3.97 (0.68) 133.3
31–35 3.48 (0.67) 133.5 3.95 (0.62) 128.9
36–40 3.56 (0.57) 142.4 3.91 (0.56) 129.0
41–55 3.47 (1.02) 150.7 3.95 (0.86) 146.6
Status
Married 3.49 (0.70) 136.8 9.010 .029 3.92 (0.65) 130.9 17.082 .001
Single 3.27 (0.62) 103.8 3.81 (0.59) 108.9
Divorced 3.55 (0.50) 144.1 4.36 (0.49) 178.8
Widowed 3.25 (0.54) 108.5 3.64 (0.32) 78.4
No. of children
None 3.24 (0.66) 103.7 14.242 0.007 3.84 (0.66) 116.1 4.638 0.326
One child 3.48 (0.53) 137.7 4.11 (0.58) 144.2
Two children 3.47 (0.47) 130.2 4.02 (0.71) 140.5
Three children 3.54 (0.77) 144.8 3.91 (0.68) 128.1
>three children 3.56 (0.66) 145.9 3.93 (0.59) 133.2
Note: Std.D. = Standard Deviation, M = Mean, MR = Mean Rank, P=P-value.
Table 8. Kruskal–Wallis test for revealing the differences in social and economic effects between
groups based on economic characteristics.
Variable
Social effects Economic effects
M (Std.D.) MR
Kruskal–
Wallis (P) M (Std.D.) MR
Kruskal–
Wallis (P)
Encouraging factors
Culture and social
needs
3.45 (0.63) 132.0 1.087 0.896 4.03 (0.55) 141.4 8.411 0.078
Support my family 3.45 (0.75) 135.2 3.90 (0.75) 131.7
Personal financial
needs
3.46 (0.70) 130.4 3.95 (0.66) 130.5
Support the economy 3.41 (0.62) 130.4 3.86 (0.41) 111.1
For leisure time 3.31 (0.50) 114.2 3.58 (0.62) 88.1
Wage
Low wage 3.38 (0.77) 122.4 14.501 0.002 3.79 (0.77) 119.7 16.940 0.001
Moderate wage 3.32 (0.65) 114.8 3.86 (0.64) 118.0
High wage 4.02 (0.43) 200.2 4.74 (0.28) 229.2
Equal 3.57 (0.60) 146.0 4.05 (0.52) 142.5
Support responsible
Husband 3.50 (0.68) 138.1 8.644 0.034 3.90 (0.66) 130.1 0.338 0.953
Father 3.32 (0.60) 110.8 3.96 (0.58) 126.8
Myself 3.33 (0.71) 121.5 3.96 (0.72) 133.2
Share 3.67 (0.58) 156.0 4.06 (0.44) 136.1
Sufficiency of wages
Not enough 3.46 (0.73) 131.2 8.420 0.015 3.92 (0.66) 126.9 2.885 0.236
Sufficient 3.60 (0.60) 149.9 4.08 (0.56) 143.0
Good 3.33 (0.64) 117.0 3.86 (0.66) 124.7
Note: Std.D. = Standard Deviation, M = Mean, P=P-value.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE FINANCE & INVESTMENT 11

4. Discussion
As the current study investigates the influence of the social and economic characteristics
of Saudi women on their attitudes toward empowering them in online labor market, it
was found that, in general, participants have a positive attitude toward empowering
women in online labor market. As presented in the findings, online labor market is
useful in caring for children in the case of married women. It was found to be the
most important social factor that contributes to encouraging women in the empower-
ment in online labor market. The current result is consistent with the result of Askar
(2014); SMT studies center (2019) and Mohamed (2020), who discovered that online
labor market has a great benefit for women globally and Saudi women in particular,
because it gives them an opportunity to work and take care of their families at the
same time. Moreover, the findings showed that the item ‘I believe that empowering
women increases the dependence of women on themselves’is the most important econ-
omic factor that influences the empowerment of women in online labor market. We may
argue that the main goal behind empowering Saudi women in any field is to enhance
their personal strength, which, in turn, contributes to developing their self-skills and
knowledge of weakness points and working to develop them, which then leads women
to be more independent. This result is consistent with the result of Yogendrarajah and
Semasinghe (2013), Shuqair (2018) and Golzard (2019), who stated that empowering
women in all fields aims to enhance women’s personal strength that leads to develop
the level of lives; give them a chance to participate in decision making and increase
their own self-reliance. The findings also presented that the item ‘I believe that empow-
ering women will reduce foreign workers’is the second most important economic factor
that influences the empowerment of women in online labor market. I believe that Saudi
women are half of population, and their right is to be given an opportunity to empower
them in labor market, which greatly contributes to reducing foreign workers from the
market. The result is consistent with the result of Rashoud (2016), and Meshri,
Munther (2020), who found that Saudi women in labor market increased from 15% in
1999 to 22% in 2015, explaining population growth is the key factor in increasing the
Saudi women in labor market.
According to the study’s hypotheses, firstly, it was discovered that there was no stat-
istical correlation between methods of empowering women online in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia and social and economic characteristics. We argued the experience of
empowering women in Saudi Arabia in its early stages, so the methods of empowering
women online were not applied significantly and effectively in Saudi Arabia. Empower-
ing Saudi women online is still relatively new concept in Saudi society; therefore, the
relationship between the methods of empowering women online in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia and social and economic characteristics did not appear clearly. Secondly,
there is a significant difference in social and economic effects between groups based
on social characteristics. It was found that the differences in social and economic
effects were based on the participants’status. Married women see online labor market
as an ideal work environment more than single women because it allows them to have
aflexible work opportunity from home and look after their family at the same time (Spi-
nello, 2003). Thirdly, there is a significant difference in economic effects between groups
based on economic characteristics, especially, the differences in the economic effects
12 S. N. ALSHMERY ET AL.

based on the participants’wage. High-income women believe that online labor market is
an effective work environment more than low-income women. We may argue that high-
income women feel their achievement and success at this work environment, which, in
turn, increases their desire to work more and be more creative and productive in their
work.
5. Conclusion
The study reached a set of conclusions, namely:
.The lack of a relationship between the social characteristics of Saudi women and the
methods of empowering women online in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
.The lack of a relationship between the economic characteristics of Saudi women and
methods of empowering women online in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
.The social characteristics of Saudi women affect their attitudes toward empowering
them in the online labor market as it has been shown that marriage is the most impor-
tant social factor that contributes to encouraging women to empower in the online
labor market, where working online provides the opportunity for married women
to work and benefit and also takes care of their family at the same time
.The economic characteristics of Saudi women affect their attitudes toward empower-
ing them in the online labor market as it has been found that high-income women are
the most used group to work online as it is an ideal and effective environment for them
to achieve achievements and successes.
.Empowering Saudi women to work online contributes to increasing their indepen-
dence, enhancing their personal strength, increasing their skills and capabilities, treat-
ing their weaknesses, developing their capabilities, raising their social, economic and
living standards. Empowerment also contributes to reducing dependence on foreign
workers.
.Population growth and the increase in the percentage of women in society is the main
factor in increasing women’s participation in the Saudi labor market.
Disclosure statement
The researchers have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Funding
Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through the project number
SS-153 (through the initiative of social sciences number of the contract).
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