Unemployment rate among Saudis hits 8.5% in Q1 2023

The unemployment rate among Saudis increased to 8.5% in the first quarter of 2023, compared to 8% in the fourth quarter 2022, according to the General Authority for Statistics’ (GASTAT) labor force survey. 

Meanwhile, the overall unemployment rate in the Kingdom (Saudis and non-Saudis) reached 5.1% in Q1 2023, compared to 4.8% in Q4 2022.

Among Saudi females, the participation rate reached 36% in the three-month period.

The employment-to-population ratio of Saudis declined to 48% on a quarterly basis in the same period.

The following table illustrates the changes in unemployment in Saudi Arabia:

Saudis account for 52.6% and 47% of the labor force in the public and private sectors, respectively. On the other hand, non-Saudis employed in the private sector made up 68.1%.