Saudi unemployment drops to nearly 12% in Q4 2018

The unemployment rate among Saudi Arabian citizens dropped to 12.7 percent quarter-on-quarter in Q4 2018, according to data from the Saudi General Authority for Statistics. 

Unemployment among all population in the Kingdom stood at 6.0 percent in the fourth quarter – unchanged compared to Q3 2018, with 2.9 percent among males and 22.6 percent among females.

At Q4 2018, a total of 12.54 million individuals were reported employed in the Kingdom. Men accounted for 82.9 percent, or 10.40 million, of total labor force, while women represented 17.1 percent, or 2.14 million of those employed.

About 9.43 million expats were employed, representing 75.2 percent of the total employed population, while nationals accounted for just 24.8 percent, or 3.11 million.

A total of 8.86 million workers, or 70.7 percent of total labor force are subject to the regulations of the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI), 9.8 percent are subject to the rules of the Civil Service, while 19.5 percent of total labor force represents domestic workers.

*Data from ministry of labor doesn’t include military and security employees and workers abroad.