Saudi unemployment down to 12.5% in Q1 2019

The unemployment rate among Saudi Arabian citizens dropped to 12.5 percent in Q1 2019, from 12.7 percent in the previous quarter, according to data from the Saudi General Authority for Statistics. 

The unemployment rate among Saudi males and females reached 6.6 percent and 31.7 percent, respectively.

Unemployment among all population in the Kingdom eased to 5.7 percent in the first quarter – compared to 6.0 percent in Q4 2018, with 2.8 percent among males and 21.0 percent among females.

A total of 12.76 million individuals were reported employed across the Kingdom in Q1 2019. Men accounted for 82.2 percent, or 10.49 million of total labor force, while women represented 17.8 percent, or 2.27 million of those employed.

About 9.65 million expats were employed, representing 75.6 percent of the total employed population, while nationals accounted for just 24.4 percent, or 3.11 million.

A total of 8.67 million workers, or 67.9 percent of total labor force are subject to the regulations of the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI), 9.6 percent are subject to the rules of the Civil Service, while 22.4 percent of total labor force represents domestic workers.

*Data from the Ministry of Labor doesn’t include military and security employees and workers abroad.