Saudi construction sector had 1 mln employees in 2017

The total number of workers employed in Saudi Arabia’s construction sector reached 1.07 million in 2017, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics.

Saudis accounted for 145,000, or 14 percent of total workers in the sector.

Expats represented 86 percent, or over 924,000 workers in 2017.

According to economic activity, the total number of employees in construction of buildings hit 693,000, or 65 percent of total labor force. Civil engineering and specialized construction activities followed with 195,000 and 180,000 workers, respectively.

Total salaries and wages in the sector stood at SAR 28.4 billion in the same period, with 62 percent in the construction of buildings activity.

The industry’s operating revenue hit SAR 213.4 billion in 2017, compared to operating expenses of SAR 87.1 billion.

Employees’ compensation stood at nearly SAR 34.1 billion.

The total value of construction projects reached almost SAR 626.8 billion in 2017, to which government projects contributed SAR 383.8 billion.