Unemployment Rate in Saudi Arabia decreased to 2.80 percent in the first quarter of 2025 from 3.50 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, Saudi Arabia's estimated unemployment rate amounted to approximately 4.01 percent. This decrease is down almost 1 percent from the year before. The unemployment rate is defined as the percentage of unemployed workers in the total labor force. Where are people employed? Saudi Arabia's population is around 33 million inhabitants, and of the employed workforce, most have jobs in the oil and gas industry. This is to be expected, as the economy is based on the production and trade of oil, and as such the oil sector has a value of about 1.1 trillion Saudi riyals. Facing challenges Saudi Arabia has several economic challenges to face, including the environmentally disastrous impact of its oil and natural gas production; state-funded company Saudi Aramco is listed at the top polluter worldwide. Socially, Saudi Arabia has had a tumultuous past in terms of women's rights, where women only gained the right to drive in 2018 thanks to a series of reforms and compose just 18 percent of the labor force.

Key information about Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate

• Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate increased to 3.73% in Sep 2024, from the previously reported figure of 3.32% in Jun 2024.
• Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2012 to Sep 2024, with an average rate of 5.69%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 8.98% in Jun 2020 and a record low of 3.32% in Jun 2024.
• The data is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, Saudi Arabia Population reached 32.18 million people in Jun 2022.

Saudi Arabia unemployment rate for 2024 was 3.90%, a 0.11% decline from 2023.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Saudi Arabia unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>4.01%</strong>, a <strong>1.58% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Saudi Arabia unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>5.59%</strong>, a <strong>1.03% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Saudi Arabia unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>6.62%</strong>, a <strong>1.04% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
</ul>Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for Saudi Arabia (SLUEM1524ZSSAU) from 1991 to 2024 about Saudi Arabia, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate: Extended History data was reported at 5.700 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.000 % for 2018. Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate: Extended History data is updated yearly, averaging 5.700 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2019, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.302 % in 1991 and a record low of 4.345 % in 1999. Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate: Extended History data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data. The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Global Economic Monitor – Table SA.G017: Unemployment Rate. CEIC extends history for annual Unemployment Rate. General Authority for Statistics provides Unemployment Rate. No Labour Force Survey was conducted for 2003-2005 and hence estimates of Unemployment Rate from Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency are used. Unemployment Rate prior to 1999 is sourced from the World Bank.

In 2024, the youth unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia decreased by 0.05 percentage points (-0.36 percent) compared to 2023. In total, the youth unemployment rate amounted to 13.77 percent in 2024. This increase was preceded by a declining youth unemployment rate.The youth unemployment rate refers to the share of the workforce aged 15 to 24 that is currently not working but is actively searching for work. It does not include the economically inactive population, such as the long-term unemployed or full-time students.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Saudi Arabia was reported at 12.5 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Saudi Arabia - Unemployment, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Saudi Arabia was reported at 3.896 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Saudi Arabia - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate: Saudi: Female data was reported at 13.658 % in Dec 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 16.350 % for Sep 2023. Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate: Saudi: Female data is updated quarterly, averaging 31.440 % from Mar 2012 (Median) to Dec 2023, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 35.694 % in Dec 2012 and a record low of 13.658 % in Dec 2023. Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate: Saudi: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Authority for Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.G021: Unemployment Rate (Discontinued).

The youth unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia saw no significant changes in 2024 in comparison to the previous year 2023 and remained at around 13.77 percent. But still, the youth unemployment rate reached its lowest value of the observation period in 2024. The youth unemployment rate refers to the share of the workforce aged 15 to 24 that is currently not working but is actively searching for work. It does not include the economically inactive population, such as the long-term unemployed or full-time students.Find more key insights for the youth unemployment rate in countries like Kuwait and Qatar.

The unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia stands at 3.48 percent according to the latest data from . That reading shows a decrease from the level of 3.73 percent in the previous quarter and a decrease from the level of 4.43 percent in the same quarter of the previous year. The unemployment rate...

Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in Saudi Arabia was reported at 9.813 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Saudi Arabia - Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Explore the dataset on unemployment rates for Saudis and non-Saudis by sex in Saudi Arabia . Gain insights on labor trends and gender disparities with SAMA Annual data.

Labor, Unemployment, Nationality, Gender, SAMA Annual

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Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate: Male data was reported at 2.311 % in Dec 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.481 % for Sep 2023. Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate: Male data is updated quarterly, averaging 2.944 % from Jun 2016 (Median) to Dec 2023, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.699 % in Jun 2020 and a record low of 2.154 % in Dec 2019. Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Authority for Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.G021: Unemployment Rate (Discontinued).

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in Saudi Arabia was reported at 13.77 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Saudi Arabia - Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in Saudi Arabia was reported at 23.82 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Saudi Arabia - Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Saudi Arabia was reported at 1.79 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Saudi Arabia - Unemployment, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate: Female data was reported at 11.413 % in Dec 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.687 % for Sep 2023. Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate: Female data is updated quarterly, averaging 20.270 % from Jun 2016 (Median) to Dec 2023, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25.337 % in Jun 2020 and a record low of 11.413 % in Dec 2023. Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Authority for Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.G021: Unemployment Rate (Discontinued).

In the second quarter of 2019, the female unemployment rate was 31.1 percent, while the male unemployment rate was six percent in Saudi Arabia. The unemployment rate of females was more than five times higher than the unemployment rate of men.